LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. 



©|«p. - @op?ri5?|t :|ij,. 



Shelf .J. 



^3 



UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 



VERSES, 



— BY 



SLYTHE ._TABOR 



Ot' the making" of many books tliere is no end. 
And ill is, also, is vanity. 




Euterert according to Law, in the office of the 
Librarian, at Washington, D. C. 



1888, 



t* 



<'*'' 

'> 



PREFACE. 

TO WHO MAY CARE TO READ. 



^li'^HE writer of the following? verses has no other 
^^^ excuse to offer for tlieir production, than the 
fact that he has, at limes through life, been tal^en 
with a desire to write in ihis manner. The feeling 
became so earnest and importunate, that it seems 
much easier to gratify it than to resist. 

The excuse for publishing the results of these sen- 
timents, is a wish to put them in a permanent form, 
accompanied with the hope that possibly others may 
find somethitg interesting in them. 

S. T. 



IKTIDEX. 



A. 

PAGE 

Abram and Abrams 116 

Abbreviations 148 

ACoupleof Beers 102 

Acrostics 7 

Against the Rainy Day Ill 

Ah, There 127 

Alack for Truth 8() 

An August Morning Ill 

A New Years Gift to a Friend 26 

Angeline 144 

A Prayer 45 

April Fool 126 

Are there None Who Sing? 16 

As an Angel Sings 76 

A Serenade 83 

A Summer Idyl 109 

As We View It 146 

At Bethany 29 

At Bethlehem 20 

Autumn's Carnival 144 

Autumn's Tapestry 61 

Autumn Woods 53 

A Valentine 82 

A View of Pittsburgh 91 

Aweary 72 

A Winter Evening 56 

A Winter Morning 55 



INDEX. 



B. 

Baby's Shoes 100 

Baby Talk 112 

Because he is Allowed To 120 

Blue and Gold 13:J 

Broken Pitchers . 129 

By Winter Moonlight 56 

C. 

Cain 13(3 

Christmas 17 

Christmas Thoughts ,.... 21 

Columbia's Champion 05 

Comfort of the Light 44 

Compassion 118 

D. 

Death's Door 137 

Departing Friends 59 

Diapason 135 

Dogwood 54 

Down by the Sea 85 

E. 

Easter, Before the Dawn 143 

Easter Flowers 32 

Easter Morn 30 

Elizabeth 75 

F. 

Fair Winsome Jean 79 

Felicity 114 

For Valentine's Day 141 

Fort Donelson 34 

For Thanksgiving 38 

Friendship and Bella 70 



INDEX. 



G. 

Gentlemen are Requested 1*^6 

Getting Ready for the Picnie 104 

Girls and Boys ^^^ 

Guardian Light ^"^ 

H. 

Happy He ^^^ 

IleKnowed It All "105 

Her Wise Choice l'-^'^ 

High Tone ^■''^ 

-| OK 

Hygeme "^-^ 

I. 

In a Lady's Album '^^ 

In Memoriam l"!' 



J. 



John and Jack, 



Kate and Ruth 

Kissing and Kissing. 
K. M. Q 



12.^ 



Judah's Daughters 41 

K. 



87 
106 
1B8 



L. 

Law and Order 14.5 

Let Them Go 104 

Life's Busy Scene '''1 

Life's Mystery 44 

Love Me Little, Love Me Long ^'^ 

Love's Way ^4 

Lying Around 1^4 



6 



M. 

Majesty 13 

'Mid Autumn Leaves (H 

Midnight , 89 

Midnight, Dec. olst 23 

Musing Beauty 121 

N. 

Night and Morning 55 

Night on Fifth Avenue 122 

O. 

Oil, Dreaming Soul 42 

On City Streets 65 

Ontonagon 52 

P. 

Pansies 59 

Pass On Old Year 23 

Pay Below 99 

Percival 124 

Personal 8 

Physician, Heal Thyself 127 

Pity, 'Tis, 'Tis True 94 

Primrose Days 58 

Promoted 103 

Q. 

Questioning 70 

R. 

Piockabye 103 

Pocks and Trees 53 

S. 

Saint Valentine SO 

Seeing, They See Not 93 

Serenade 66 



INDEX. 



Slie Met Me by the Way 57 

Sing On 84 

Some Reasons for Thanksgiving 97 

Spidtuelle 108 

Studies 9 

Summer Night Serenade 83 

T. 

Take Your Choice 72 

Tlianks for the Departed 135 

The Apple Tree 108 

The Autumn ... 5i 

The Charge of the One Hundred 130 

The Christening 141 

The Companion .. 45 

The Eclipse 140 

The Fair Lady 79 

The Fairest Scene 31 

The Friends 3(3 

The Flemish Beauty 58 

The Giant 73 

The Girls Will Slide 123 

The Glorious New Era 95 

The Golden Moments 40 

The Golden Trees (37 

The Indian Legend 117 

The Juryman 128 

The Match 110 

The Mother's Work 68 

The Mystery of Life 92 

The New Court House 90 

The Old Year and the New 24 

The Pioneers 47 

The Poplar Tree (53 

There Is No Excuse 96 



There Is No Fun In It 94 

The River of Content 15 

The Sealed Verdict 137 

The Sleeping City 89 

The Sleeping Sea 88 

The Temptation in the Desert 28 

The Time of Thanks 37 

The Two Fathom Canoe 132 

The Valentine 81 

The White Abutillon 60 

The White Cross 45 

The Woods Near Lake Superior 51 

The Year Gone By 25 

Three Worthies 12 

Time 124 

To a Fair Artist 78 

To a Lady 77 

To (Jo With a Present 22 

To the Allegheny Ball Club 129 

To Our Baby Daughter 39 

Two Lilies 62 

T\vo Sonnets for New Year. '\ 

1. The Court House, (- 27 

2. The Jail, \ 

Two Trees 61 

IT. 
Umstiegen 139 

W. 

Westward, Ho! 91 

AYhat Then 98 

White Shines the Moon 64 

Whittier 140 

Why I am 1 46 

Why She Preferred the Other School 125 

Why We Sing 113 

AVinter Woods 55 

Wild Asters (50 

Y. 
Young Colonel Read 33 



STRAY LEAVES, 



ACROSTICS. 

WRITTEN IN A YOrXG T.ADY'S ALBUM 

A. D. 1849. 

May all the blessings conspire together, 

All blessings of earth and of heaven, 

Rich mercies 'round tliy dear heart gather. 

Yea, all goodness to thee, love, be given : 
Loving favor never leave thee, 
Evil things and thoughts to grieve thee 
Ever far away be driven. 

WRITTEN IN AN OLDER LADY'S ALBUM 

A. D. 1863. 

May all the blessings conspire together, 
All blessings of earth and of heaven. 
Rich mercies 'round thy dear heart gather. 
Yea, all goodness to thee, love, be given : 

Long since 1 besought this for thee, dear, 
Ev'n when we began the long way, 
E'er our feet were well tijiied to the music [day : 
Down the dim march through life toward heaven's 
In the journey the 1)lessings came with thee, 
(iod's mercies close kept thee, true wife; 
But to me the best gift has been given. 
Yourself, sweet, the bliss of mv life. 



STKAV LEAVE 



PEKSOXAI.. 

1 have a little book at home. 

Its leaves with age are stained. 
By me more prized than richest tome 

With gems and gold ingrained. 

For on the fly leaf, traced of old 

By fingers warm and lithe — 
Alas I clear fingers long since cold 1 

Is written ''Mary Sly the." 

My mothers school-girl name was this. 

Here writ in school-girl years. 
Lasts memory with this i)age I wis. 

Long as my eyes hold tears. 

'Twas in a city old. renowned. 

About which still were seen. 
Where once the towered walls stood 'ron)id. 

Low banks and slopes of green. 

Where old St. Butolph's ruined nave 

Stands all with ivy dim : 
Where Sal)baths" air is all a-wave 

With chiming peal and hymn. 

There passed the scliool-girl time away. 

And other duties came : 
And with the changes came the day 

The school-girl changed her name. 

The name her gentle mother signed 

Upon her school-book's leaf 
Was •• Tabor,'" name still held in mind 

Through years too old for grief. 

In memory of these dear ones gone. 

To write is loving labor: 
To raise a shaft of verse upon 

The names of Slvthe and Tabor. 



STUDIES. 

1. INTHODirTION, 

A sense of duty done, win we or fail. 
Is an illumination in the soul 

Made dark by care : 
Then sorrow's blindinu- veil 
Hy hoi)e's fair hand is raised : we see life's goal 

Is not desi)air. 
Faith's ])rophet must foretell 
The good that from one duteous deed ma> flow. 

x\s from a little fountain's mossy eel I 
Amid the hills, the trickling waters go. 
Half lost among the weeds: then throngii the dell 

The brooklet trills its heart-contenting glees 
'Neath spreading branches of the sheltering trees. 
Along the way the waters fidler swell, 

'Till broad across the plain behold it lie 
A silvei- river blending with the sk> . 

II. riiE iMtoMi'Tr.\(.. 

As in heart sickness of sweet hope deferred. 
Deferred so long the heart seemed well nigh dead. 

A voice within me speaks, mid sorrow heard : 
It tells of duty, urges me, instead 
Of idly waiting b> the dusty road, 

"Till hoi)e revi\es. and wished deliverance comes. 
In grassy fields and forest warbler's homes. 
To this dull life seek out an episo<le, 

Xor thankless rust unused the talent heaven b 
stowed. 

111. l'I!()Ml*riX<i. 

I hear the voice low })leading. when the morn 
Smiles gaily on the tears that night has shed. 

And wakes the blithe birds, who in music warn 
The dusky kine to quit their grassy bed : 
And when the da\ has oj^ened wide his eye. 



10 STRAY LEAVES 



And gazes down unshadowed from the noon. 
And when pale evening's star adorns the sky, 
And when the clouds are silvered by the moon. 

This spirit voice beseeches ever for its boon. 

IV. THE FOKEST. 

And says it is a whisper, soft and low, 
That to the muses' retinue belongs. 

And if I will, to their abode we'll go 
And hear Nymph echo mock their woodland song; 
And we about their inmost haunts will stray. 

All car]>eted with changing gold and green. 
8oft verdant turf where glancing sunbeams play. 
As zephyr helps them pierce the leafy screen 

By arching boughs u])lield. the pillar trees 
between. 

V, THE FOREST LAKE. 

When through the woods the silent shadows wake. 
And night repairs the fainting fields with dews. 

We tread the marge of some green bordered lake. 
And lo I the comely moon her bright face views 
In clear translucent depths, and wondering sees 

The dimpling smiles her mirrored visage shows : 
As from late blossoms rifling comes the breeze. 
All rich with ravished sweets of sunnner blows. 

He plants his eager kisses where her image glows. 

VI. SUNRISE IN THE MOVNTAINS. 

When mountain tops are hoar with silvery frost. 
From scmie high turret rock we eastward gaze: 

On farthest verge, the verge in glory lost. 
The beacon sun fires his effulgent blaze : 
The crooked rivers oft appearing blue 

Trod out by mounds of trees whose shadows fall 
This way : the drifted mists, throughout the view. 
These fog-hung pines, this giant mountain wall — 

Morn's s^vift revealing splendor glorifies them all. 



VII. MooxiasTXc; ox Tin: iiiu.s. 

Whni star's eyes on dewy summits meet. 
Unto our souls we take the lovely night: 

We feel tlie throbbing heart of silence beat. 
And l)oun(lless beauty ovei'tlows tlie sight : 
The rising moon beams poetry around. 

Transforming common and familiar things: 
The stream that sleeps, the breasting hills that bound. 
The scene; lone trees, and all the vision brings 

To lovers of the soul that sigJi sweet whisperings. 

YllT. T1II<: srx AT SETTING. 

The kingly sun now tarries at the west. 
His royal court of largesses to hold, 

Throws o'er the trembling river's heaving breast 
A burnished pictured robe of flowing gold : 
The waiting grove's tall shadows prostrate lie. 

And kiss the rij)pling margin at our feet : 
The forest-mantled hill front rises high 
With smiles of light the sai)phire sky to greet : 
So placid deep eyed joy. and sunny gladr.css meet. 

IX. COXCLU.SIOX. 

And so I wandered with the spirit voice : 
But did I ever reach the muses call ? 

Or feel the thrilling touch of fancy's joys '.' 
Or wet my lips at ])oesy's dee]) well ? 
Has not tliis inward voice me all misled 

To try imaginations soaring wing? 
(an 1 dare hope to raise my hapless head, 
Or any song of joy or beauty sing? 

Or <m Time's heap of golden thought a tribute fling* 



1^ stkav lkave.^. 



'J'MIJEK WOHTIIIKS. 

To oiM' whose love of poesy 

Is native to his inmost soul. 
Tlie banrs sweet songs will ever Ue 

Clear streams of joy that ceaseless roll 
With borders wide of freshest green. 
Where new delights are ever seen. 

The dream of iSpenser. manifold. 

Where Una with the lion strays. 
And Kerl Cross Knights on emprise l)old : 

Where Pritle her various team displays ; 
Where (iuyon threads false Mammon's gate,< 
And "seapes the Hend that on him waits. 

What wealth of imagers is seen, 
Of eltin knights and warrior maids: 

Of Gloriane. great fiery Queen : 

Of eastled woods and lonely glades. 

Of giants grim, and monsters fell. 

And over all the poets si)ell. 

()]• Shakespeare's page we eager scan 
The mirror, where reflected glow^. 

The passions and the moods of man. 
And all of human nature shows. 

As though the poet's mind couki l.»ok 

Into the makers secret book. 

See how the Koman rabblement 
Is wrought to do its leaders will : 

'JMie ring of politicians bent 

To rule the land, and rule it still : 

Just as 'tis done this modern age. 

The master set it for the stage. 

Macbeth and Macbeth's wife appear. 

Grim murder and his cruel dame : 
Fair Desdemona claims a tear. 

And sad Ophelia free of blame : 



MA.IK.^ITV. 

Kail' HosnliiKl solxcs Hyineirs imi/.c. 
And Jossica by inooiili.^ht st]-a> s. 
Or. we may turn to Milton, jiravc. 

To Peiiserosas' diusIuju" strain. 
Or Allegro's swift moving stave. 

Or Lyciclas with sad retrain : 
O'er Comiis we may linger long. 
The muse's sweetest, purest song. 

Or, with tlie Arch Fiend we nmy go 
And see him rouse his fallen host 

'I'hat strew tlie plains of lire I)el()\\ : 
Or with him search hell's drear\ <*oast : 

Or else with Adam we ma\ hie 

AVhere E\e lii-st met his wondering e\e. 

'I'hese three great bards rear higli tlieir head; 

liike mountains toward the starr\' slcies : 
And eacli the earl> sunbeam sheds 

Before the\ gladden humbler eyes: 
Adown the age the glor\ gleams. 
And light (»ur souls witli purest beams. 



MAJES'J'Y. 

]N[y thoughts at times, like southern birds in spring. 
Instinctive streteli the strong plumed passage wing: 
Imagination starts aloft, and soars, 
And wheels impatient o'er these miry shores: 
Whence sticking fast my feet can never tiy 
Till death's soft arms sliall bear me to the sky. 
This time we journex forth to feel and see 
The awe magnificent luimed Majesty. 

Thought clears the realm of space and lights at will 

Upon the track of time ; so on the sill 

Of Susa's far famed palace we may stand. 

While proud Ahasueras rules the land. 

And sits in studied Majesty alone. 



STRAY LEAVES. 



In sceptered state, and death environed throne — 
When Esther, braving fate, all pale is seen: 
There Majesty steps meekly with the queen. 

Then fly away, swift thought, and hover nigh 

Where strong Thernioi)yIie o'pes to the sky, 

Behold the myriads vast of Persia's host. 

And thronging troops of horse her strength and boast; 

The Majesty of lunnbers there appears — 

Whilst o'er yon l)un('h of scant three hundred spears, 

Where King Leonidas yields up his l)reath ; 

Aye, haunts the deathless Majesty of death, 

Now down the ages fly. nor stay the wing, 

And to our view the modern nations bring : 

A light at Paris in the days of blood. 

Where rabid license raged a surging flood. 

When o'er the night swelled high the Marseilles hymn. 

From fiendish throats rolled forth with wolfish vim: 

'Mid nights of horror and through days of dread. 

(Jrim Majesty of terror reared its head. 

Next to the world of poesy we go. 
And pass the portals of despair below. 
Till halted by the barred up gates of Dis, 
Where lurid fires forever flame and hiss. 
We wait the glorious angels coming then, 
Majestic fanning o'er the fetid fen: 
The Majesty of genius awes us now. 
That shades the angel limner. Dante's brow. 

Off to the pathless desert now we hie. 

O'er burning sands spread wide the burning sky : 

No swish of rushing waters here is heard. 

Nor breezy trees where swings the warbling bird : 

No sound beneath, around or overhead ; 

The dumb-foot camel moves with noisless tread: 

Nought stirs to break the near horizon's bound — 

'Tis Majesty of loneliness profound. 



THE KIVER OF CONTENT. 15 



Once more, glad pinions through the ether glide. 
On level wing sail past the eventide ; 
Above the mountains hold your quiet way. 
Out in the night companionable, stray ; 
All cloudless shine the heavens, their gentle smile 
My tired heart soothes, my spirit rests the while-: 
Now when the blessed peace no whisper mars. 
Dwells Majesty with silence 'neath the stars. 



THE RIVER OF CONTENT. 

AVhen the dreaming morn awakes with sudden start 
O'er all the east her golden tresses flying. 

Her glowing glances at the river dart. 
The lucid mirror shadeless lying. 
In clear content her beauty quickly eyeing, 

JSwiftly on her westward journey 

Her dew pearled feet depart. 

"Tis a peaceful river, wide, and full, and deep. 
That flows along its winding way forever : 

in murmering swells its rolling waters sweep. 
And isles of bliss its course dissever, 
Green odorous isles where blooming ceases never; 

And among whose swirling channels 
All cares lie fast asleep. 

Islands of delight, where grows the wood of peace. 
Among whose boughs sit (luick-winged fancies 
brooding 
On their high nests, soft lined with downy fleece. 
Storn off the flocks of sleep, eluding (iJig. 

Tlie numbering thought, when wakefulness intrud- 
Keeps the mind (m slumber's border. 

Where sleeps dim land-marks cease. 

These sweet brooding fancies listen with delight 

To hear their tuneful mates full throated singing: 
And nought aiii)ears the divaming muse to fright. 



1<» STHAV LKAVKS. 



"Mid boughs of beauty gently swinging. 
And vines of grace and fragrance to tlieni clinging: 
Whilst all wings of fear outspreading 
Are lost in distant flight. 

Nights still hand withdraws the curtains of the day. 

And shows the peaceful stars iji order gleaming: 
Familiar lights that trace the well worn way. 

In far off silence gently beaming : 

Serenely from their tranquil heights down st reaming 
On the night they shed the quiet 
In every jilacid ray. 

This broad river's swelling bosom takes the bliss. 

The night drops to it. with a full receiving : 
The starlit waves almost each other kiss. 

Then turn away with coy deceiving. 

And in their rythmic dances interweaving 
(rlittering mazes, twinkling measures. 
No ripple turns amiss. 

This l)lest river has its fount in paradise, 

Near by the the place where heaven from earth 
diverges. 
And where the trees of life and knowledge rise : 
"Tis there the three-fold stream emerges [ges 

And faith's, and hope's, and love's pure limpid sur- 
In content, their waters mingling. 
All thirstv souls suffice. 



ARE THERE NONE WHO SING. 

When the suave and clement presence of the sprint 
Makes gay the fields and every hour delightful. 

And sets the thoughts and fancies all a-wing. 
While pleasure sways her sceptre rightful. 
And sorrow comes not. neither aught despiteful. 

Do but I the joy pangs suffer. 
Alone die I or sing ? 



(ilntsiMAs. IT 

When far .sweeter than the spring, dear t'rie)i(lslii|) 
smiles. 
When falnest ti'utli-. and tenderest love are ijlowing. 
And da>s streteli on like lover, haunted aisles. 
Wherein sweet gleams and glooms are showing. 
Nor thought of hate, orhatefid coldness knowing: 
Is there none but me exultant. 

None else must sing the whiles '.' 

And when better than the spring, or frieiulship sweet. 

The liord His constant presence shows abiding. 
And in llis jo\(»us path directs our feet. 

Still leading, still His love confiding. 

Nor an> clouil dare come. His favor hiding : 
Solely does my heart high swelling. 
Attempt His i)raises meet? 

Thus, my thoughts impatient and unwise complain. 
Forgetful of the spent Elijah's warning : 

Eve then in Jezebel's and Ahab's reign. 
Seven thousand bowed not, Baal still scorning : 
So thousands now sing on each night and morning 

Of the sweetness, joy and comfort. 
That singing souls attain. 



rHKISTMAS. 

Oh I Spirit of the thought quick wings. 

More instant than th' electric spark : 
( ) I Muse of poesy who sings 

Most sweet, when like the mounting lark 
Thou soarest straight toward the sky. 

On level pinions hovering nigh, 
The ringing songs of heaven to mark. 

Why like the lark dost thou descend ? 
Who leaves the sun in quick return. 
Who loves the Jowly nested end 



STUAV LEAVES. 



Of his steep flight, whose heart dotli yearn 
To find his downy young ones there. 

Ilast tliou some nest witliin thy care '.' 
Doth love in tliy pure essence burn ? 

Ah! 'tis at lowly Nazareth 

Thy prone and eager flight is stayed : 
There thou behold' st (all hushed thy In-eath) 

The blest and ever pondering maid. 
God chosen Mary, heaven approved. 

Above all women best beloved, 
With fadeless honor, bright arrayed. 

xVnd what a lowly home is this 

To house the Prince of David's race : 

Ah I yes ; He stoops from highest bliss. 
His radiant glory doth abase : 

Even down to Nazareth doth come. 
To dwell in Judah's lowliest home. 

To meekly choose the meanest place. 

But not at Nazareth shall be born. 

The Heavenly Heir of David's line ; 
That regal honor must be worn 

So fixed by ordinance divine. 
By David's city. Bethlehem : 

Be worn as an imperial geni 
Whose lustre shall forever shine. 

Then what shall change the course of life 
Of Joseph, righteous man of (Jod. 

And Mary, his espoused wife ? 
That they may take up their abode 

In David's city, and await 
The coming to his lowly state 

O^ Him to bear our heavy load. 

Now hie thee, angel of the mind. 

O'er land and sea. o'er plain and hill, 
Vh swifter than 11. e southern wind 



CHRISTMAS. 19 



To Rome, whose rule the- world does fill : 
Augustus reigneth, Ctiesar great, • 

Who guideth firm the mighty state, 
And doth unwitting God's high will. 

He speaketh his supreme decree — 

" Be all upon the earth enrolled; 
Let all, of whatso'er degree 

Be gathered and for taxing polled, 
Each to the place where they belong, 

That we nor they may suffer wrong, 
But all in just proportion tolled." 

The word goes forth and is obeyed. 
And all the world at once is moved ; 

So God's foreknowledge is displayed, 
The truth of prophecy is proved, 

And Bethlehem receives its Lord, 
The Babe is born as spake the word ; 

He lowly comes as Him behooved. 

Then haste, swift spirit, back return ; 

Though night, thou need'st not miss the way 
For Bethlehem's star doth brightly burn. 

And guides thee surer than the day ; 
And thou mayest stop and join the choir 

Of angels bright, thy dear desire. 
And aid them in their holy lay. 

They "Glory in the highest" sing. 

And "Peace on earth, goodwill to men ;' 

Then haste and greet the infant king. 
Who holds his court at Bethlehem. 

Meek King, a manger is his throne ; 
Of royal honor there is none. 

No sceptre there or diadem. 

But Thou canst see. Thy vision keen. 
The ranks of cherubs there behold 

By Thee are choirs of seraphs seen, 
Who strike their thrilling harps of gold 



20 STRAY LEAVES. 



Their songs to human ears are dumb. 
To sin-clogged senses cannot come 
The ecstacies that thine enfold. 

(Oh ! may I sometimes have Thine aid 
To sing my burning heart's true love ; 

To venture nigh, nor be afraid 
To scan the harping hosts above ; 

And with them prostrate there to fall 
Before His feet who is my all ; 

Who loves me, and will not reprove ?) 

But nought of this can mortals see, 

'Tis but a stable rough and bare, 
A meagre hospitalty 

For mother and for babe to share : 
Oh ! sorrow ! sorrow thus begun ; 

111 portion of the Perfect One, 
Who sorrow like a robe must wear. 

O blest be thou the mother meek, 

O blest be thou the lowly Child . 
O may our hearts forever seek 

To follow^ thy demeanor mild : 
And, Oh ! Lord Jesus gives us now 

True hearts to thy meek yoke to bow, 
Thy servants pure and undefiled. 

AT BETHLEHEM. 

"Sweet patient baby with the gentle eyes, 
Alone thy tearful mother loves thee yet ; 

Alone I see my Lord in infant guise, 
And joy and wonder in my soul are met. 

Now in soft sleep thy fringed eyelids close, 
Maybe a dream of me is shut within ; 

My anxious heart is lulled toward calm repose, 
A strange entrancement seems my soul to win." 

The Blessed Virgin Mother did not sleep. 

For wonder held her charmed senses waking, 



Christmas. 21 



As rolled aside the realms of distance sweep, 
Upon her view heaven's hosts are breaking, 
The myriads there, all other thought forsaking. 

Turn their hearts toward David's city 
With tender love and deep. 

And from the midst, from out the clond hid throne, 
A voice proceeds, the angel armies thrilling, 

And evKiry ear receives the awful tone. 
All sounds the still small accents stilling, 
All hearts give loving heed and audience willing: 

"Behold ! My only Son beloved, 

Let all their Monarch own." 

'•Ah ! baby mine,'' the wondering Mary said, 
"Thy Mother loves thee, others love thee too, 

Though from my sight the throngs of heaven are 
sped. 
Thy angel guards keep watch with service due. " 

CHRISTMAS THOUGHTS. 

In our dear home, God given and blest, 
Kriss Kringle's work is almost done ; 

No little children with us nest. 
To dream of Christmas morning's fun. 

Our Santa Clans grows really old. 
It needs no weighty Christmas pack. 

Borne through the darkness and the cold 
To make a hump upon his back 

The father is the gran' pa now. 
The children all grown old and wise, 

So wise they nothing true allow. 
Unless they see it with their eyes 

The blissful ignorance, they knew 

Long since in trusting childhood's years 

The joy they felt so sweet and true. 
But folly to them now appears. 



22 STRAY LEAVES. 



But was it folly ? that sweet time, 
The father's pity, mother's love 

And children's joy : a blessed chime 
In tune with angel hymns above. 

We children all, this season blest, 
Await our Heavenly Father's grace; 

His gift unspeakable to rest. 

And make with us His dwelling place. 

TO GO WITH A PRESENT. 

I would I could this gift 1 send you 
Endow with such full magic power. 

That with it ever might attend you 
The bliss I wish you, this sweet hour. 

I wish that fleeting time might lend you 

His utmost gift of many days. 
And as along your course you wend you, 

They bright may glow with heavenly rays. 

May Providence unsleeping fend you. 
Secure and safe from every care, 

And never failing love befriend you. 
And pleasure all your heart can bear. 

Beside, and may this not otfend you. 
May my regards not hateful be. 

And in these presents, don't pretend you 
Cannot my true love's presence see. 



MIDNIGHT, DECEMBER. 31st. 

The year's last hour is going. 
Its final joy and sorrow ; 
The sun that shines to-morrow 
Lights yeoman death a-mowing ; 
A new field where are growing. 

As grass to his regardless hand. 
Or as ripe corn full ready stand 



PASS ON, OLD YEAR 



23 



All mortal dwellers of this earthly sphere; 

The many fresh and fair, 

The many dry and sere, 
Some like loveliest flowers are glowing. 
Some withered stalks, who, zephyr blowing, 
Shudder with ague fear. 

When death has gone o'er all the field, 
And has gathered all the yield ; 
From this midnight hour beginning. 
To the distant twelve-month ending ; 

Who of all the fresh and fair ? 

Who of all the dry and sere ? 

Those who so securely stand. 

Or those who so feebly bend, 
Will hail the sunlight of another year. 
Or be among the sheaves that death will bear ? 

Who of all that live and breathe 

At this year's opening minute, 
Those who e'er its close will be 

Called to the great infinite ; 
Those whose latest new year's light. 

This morning will arise, 
Who will be as angels bright 

Inhabiting the skies ? 
And wiio in gloom of darkness lie. 

Through all thy years, Eternity. 

PASS ON, OLD YEAR (1885). 

Farewell, Old Year : the burden of thy spoil 
Too heavy seems for thy fast failing strength, 
Tramp on ; pass out the portals of the night ; 
The vast valhalla of departed days 
Awaits thee ; there assume thy numbered place 
Within the circle dim of bygone years ; 
Before thy feet throw down thy plunder fell. 
Thy load of heartbreak, and thy sheaves of hopes 



34 STRAV LEAVES. 



Destroyed. What shining names we see amid 
The heap ; behold our nation's hero there, 
Great single-heart ; there, too, we see the old 
World Moses, he whose strength did not al)ate 
In deeds benevolent ; he whose eye dimmed not 
To see that charity was done, until 
A hundred such as thou did bear him down. 
Pass on : take all thy sorrows hence : begone ! 



THE OLD YEAR AND THE NEW. 

BALI.ODE, A DOUBLE REFRAIX. 

The years march steady with a tireless tread, 
And the new will come and the old must go ; 

Our hearts fondly cling to the days that are sped. 
With the old year we journeyed, the old we know : 
Still we on with the moving current must flow ; 

We must part with the old no matter how dear ; 
May he that comes next be a friend, not a foe, 

For the New Year 's a stranger we trust, yet fear. 

C)ur thoughts backward glance o'er the months that 
are fled. 

The times full of happenings of joy or woe. 
The joys and the woes that still live or are dead ; 

With the old year we journeyed, the old we know : 

Still the time has come, time of cold and snow. 
The time of parting with the old year is here ; 

Let us hope for the sunshine, though bleak winds 
blow. 
For the New Year 's a strapger we trust, yet fear. 

Will the New Year carry us safely ahead, 
Or aweary will it lay its burden low ? 

What its days will bring cannot be fore-read ; 

With the old year we journeyed, the old we know : 
Still strong may our hearts beat and high courage 
glow ; 



THE YEAR GONE BY. 25 

Let us not make trouble till the clouds appear, 

Even they may be bright with the promise bow, 
For the New Year 's a stranger we trust, yet fear. 



Whatever the changes of life may bestow. 
With the old year we journeyed, the old we know 
We hope for the future, though doubt will appear 
For the New Year 's a stranger we trust, yet fear 



THE YEAR GONE BY (1886). 

The year gone by floats down the past 
Like wreckage on the ocean thrown ; 
Rich wreckage from our lives o'ercast ; 
Dear loss the year claims all its own 
Of true hearts gone, of fond hopes flown 
Of greeting changed to memory's sigh 
Of mutual walks to wanderings lone. 
The year gone by. 

The year gone by, borne on the blast 
Of drifting fate a cloud is blown. 
And in the distance lessens fast ; 
Its rain of tears in gusts is strown ; 
Its voice is but a grieving groam. 
Along its course grim shadows hie. 
And darkness grows where early shone 
The year gone by. 

The year gone by joms to the vast 
Retreating host to realms unknown 
And of the cohorts marches last 
In step to dull oblivion's drone. 
Through ways, by cypress overgrown, 
And fainter to our sad hearts cry. 
Sends answer back in dreary tone. 
The year gone by. 



26 STRAY L,EAVES. 



Oh, wreck ! Oh, cloud to drifthig prone 
Oh, cohort marching but to fly ! 
Our musing souls can but bemoan 
The year gone by. 



A NEW YEAR'S GIFT TO A FRIEND. 
Silver and gold have I none, that I have send I unto thf e. " 

Relentlessly the years move on, 

Nor heed our sorrows or our joys ; 

For we may laugh or we may weep. 

And love in peace our hearts may keep, 

Or hate with grief our souls surprise : ; 

Relentlessly the years move on. ^ 

Oh I tenderly the years move on. 
Withholding griefs, bestowing joys ; 
For we may laugh and need not w^eep, 
When God's own peace our hearts shall keep, 
And sorrows die beneath His eyes. 
Oh ! tenderly the years move on. 

Relentlessly or tenderly, 
As we will have it ; griefs or joys ; 
For we may laugh, or we may weep, 
And love or hate our hearts may keep 
Still with ourselves the choosing lies, 
Relentlessly or tenderly. 

Oh ! tenderly the years should move. 
Had I the sorting, griefs or joys ; 
For you should laugh and never weep. 
And love in peace your heart should keep, 
And gladness dwell within your eyes ; 
So tenderly the years should move. 



TWO SONNETS FOR THE NEW YEAK. 27 



TWO SONNETS FOR THE NEW YEAR. 

THE NEW COURT HOUSE. 
I. 

The new year rises to my sight in fair 
And stately form, a mansion great and high, 
With windows arched and walls of antique air, 
And swelling towers to satisfy the eye ; 
One rises square as if to prop the sky. 
Rejoicing as it steps the o'erlooking height : 
Beneath, the arches spring we enter by, 
To stand within the buildings shade and light ; 
Amid its stately ways and rising stairs 
We tread the path to fortune or to fame, 
Or seek from justice aid from legal cares ; 
Or, if fair knowledge be our guiding aim, 
We seek the quiet room of volumned lore. 
And fill our eager minds at learning's store. 

THE JAIL. 
II. 

To some, the coming year will cheerless show. 
As does the new built prison new and grim. 
With murder colored roofs toward heaven's glow. 
And loop-hole lattices, iron bound and grim ; 
The don-jon keep frowns o'er the walls quaint rim, 
A covered bridge high over-spans the street ; 
From halls of judgment, bridge of sighs to him 
Who passes felon- wise with lagging feet. 

Strong set and broad to front the rising sun 
A rugged wall rears high its blinding mass ; 
Uncouth and cruel stone, heart hard as th' one 
That Pharoah's heart for hardness does surpass, 
And dwells within the Prince of Darkness, he 
Who blinds God's truth to all who hate to see, 



^S Stray leaves. 



THE TEMPTATION IN THE WILDERNESS. 

FOR LENT. 

To the lonely, homeless, haunted wilderness, 
Into temptation by the spirit's leading, 

Alone the Son of Mary wends ; the stress 
Of duty bears Him past receding. 
On sorrow's path the pain and grief not heeding. 

Chosen path of his compassion. 

He onward now must press. 

Meek and lowly, but a man of common lot, 
A yeoman workman to all outward seeming. 

He forward fares, the conflict frights him not. 
He dreads not Satan's subtle scheming, 
All armed in innocence nor failure deeming, 

He the law's whole burden carries, 
Nor tittle bates nor jot. 

Why, with sudden love, does my full heart adore. 
As on the wondrous tale my mind is musing ? 

'Tis that the Patient One should list told o'er 
The glozing lies all faith abusing. 
Of him the sire of lies, who boldly choosing 

Vantage of the dreary desert, 

Sets forth his lying lore. 

'Tis that He th' Eternal Truth, God's only Son 
Should humbly to His human nature's keeping 

His Godhead hold — nor seize the evil one. 
And destined ages overleaping [heaping 

Sit then in judgment, on the Fiend's head 

All the store of full earned vengeance 
And mark his course as run. 

'Tis that down He held Himself to mortal state, 
That all His native heavenly might resigning, 
He took with mortal form a mortal's fate; 



TliE TEMPTATION IN THiE AVILDEENESS. 29 



Temptation met without repining. 
And bore alone our load, all aid declining : 
All our hope and all salvation 
Upon his victory wait. 

AT BETHANY. 

Behold ! reclining there that lowly Man ; 

But who can tell the sadness of His face ? 
The load of conscious crime we wondering scan, 

The gloom of guilt finds there a resting place. 

The gloom cast not from aught His heart within, 
No rebel thought of ill was ever His; 

The blackness of this overhanging sin 
Dark shadow fali'n from other rebels is. 

The weighty burden bows His spirit down ; 

Still patiently his steadfast face is set, 
Toward Jerusalem, where waits the crown 

Whose cruel thorns in blood are yet unwet. 

The Resurrection and the Life is He, 

Now resting here short space, ere to the strife 

He draws ; to death's drear victory, 
Who by the cross must triumph over Life. 

Short while he here abides, that love may pour 
By Mary's hands its ointment on His feet, 

Devotion's precious spieery shed o'er, 
Devotion's Lord, in preparation meet. 

Dear tender hands that wrought this deed of love ; 

Dear flowing locks that dried His holy form : 
Hard duty 'gainst the raining tears that strove, 

The cloudy tresses 'gainst the teardrops storm. 

So may we thus in emulation come 

To lay our hearts' best offerings at his feet. 

Who, with His blood has bought at priceless sum 
Perfume that makes our incense ever sweet. 



30 STRAY LEAVES. 



EASTER MORN. 

In the gloom before the dawning of the day, 
While yet the wistful stars close watch were 

keeping, 
And Olivet in darkling outline lay ; 
And still Jerusalem was sleeping ; 
Outside the wall, a woman lone and weeping. 
To a tomb within a garden 

Held on her eager way. 

As towards the sepulchre her footsteps came. 
The horror from her heart seemed strangely lighted ; 

For faith had swooned, hope's torch had lost its flame. 
In grief were joy and peace benighted ; 
And love alone still held her soul affrighted, 

Lingering, fluttering, faint and trembling 
Within her mortal frame. 

Lo ! she sees the rocky door is rolled away : 
Within beholds, where sit two angels shining ; 

Which, when she sees, she turns without delay 
And flees to tell the news, designing 
To John and Peter, who in grief repining 

Now are hast'ning to the garden 

Ere dawning of the day. 

(Now the peering stars have caught the gladdening 
sight. 
And to the sun have fled, the story telling ; 
For now the vacant tomb is sweet and bright. 
Whilst through the heavens glad songs are swelling, 
The heaven of heavens, the risen Conqueror's dwell- 
ing 
Glows and rings with angel's raptures, 
All glory and delight.) 



THE FAIREST SCENE. 31 

Now again comes Mary to the angel's word, 
Why weep'st thou woman? she this answer made 
him, 
And said, "because they've taken hence my Lord, 
And Oh ! I know not where they laid Him :" 
The gardener seeing there she too 'assayed Him, 
For she knew not it was Jesus, 

He whom her soul adored. 

Jesus said, "why weepest thou ? whom seekest thou ?" 
She answering, "Sir, if you away have borne him; 
Oh 1 tell me where you laid him ; and I now 
AVill take him thence that we may mourn him. 
With spice embalm, secure from them that scorn 

him." 
For she knew not it was Jesus, 

To whom she low did bow. 

Tear-dimmed eyes the pierced hands do not perceive ; 

To catch his voice her ears are all unwary ; 
His rising she forgets now to believe, 

Her thoughts from sorrow will vary ; 

'Tis then that Jesus says unto her, "Mary : " 
Joyful then she cried, " My Master ! " 

And felt all grief's reprieve. 



THE FAIREST SCENE. 

The night unrolls her map where shines each star, 
Herstill smooth hand's mute movement makes no jar; 
From eve's dim door to murn's resplendent bar, 
Her constellations bright the skies adorn. 

And there upon the map's unfolding plan 
The groups and clusters beautiful, we scan ; 
Some lovely gems seem still to lead the van, 

And ever on our swelling hearts are worn. 



32 STRAY LEAVES. 



It may be Sirius, of stars the king, 

Or where from Orion's belt the jewels swing; 

Or where tlie Northern Crown displays its ring ; 

Or spreads the Cross, by Cygnus high upborne, j 

So when we gaze adown dim history's track, \ 

Some groups and scenes reward the looking back, 1 

Some beacon gleams illume oblivion's wrack, ; 

To cheer our view along the way forlorn. j 

The sweetest group of all, the Fairest Scene, f 

Is in Jerusalem's old garden green, | 

Where Mary found her Lord amid the sheen ^ 

Of tears and sunbeams, on the Easter morn. | 



EASTER FLOWERS. 

Some days of Spring have passed our way. 
With cheery voice and sunshine gay, 
Like happy children loose at play. 

With merry songs out-ringing. 

The lifeless garden, cold and gray, ] 
Forbids us hopeless there to stray — 
When lo ! from out the joyless clay. 

The Crocuses are springing. 

So in our time of travail here. 

When worries vex, and days are drear. 

And joy is dumb and hope is sere, 

And toil no peace is bringing ; 

We listless wander, led by fear. 

When sudden gleaming, bright and clear 

A flash of mercies sweet and near, 

Like Crocuses is springing. 

And thus it was in days of old, 
When heaven's Lord, by Judas sold, 
Is murdered, and in death lies cold 

And faith forsakes its clinging. 



Memorial day. 



In Easter morning's flaming gold, 
Glad eyes the Risen One behold ; 
And joys and hopes from earthy mold 

Like Crocuses are springing. 



FOR MEMORIAL DAY. 

YOUNG COLONEL KEAD. 

As fades the past on memory's view, 

The past that was the present, when 
Our country struggled to subdue 

The rebel hosts of armed men, 
We would one fatal day recall, 

Relight once more the fading scene, 
As sun rays through a cloud rift fall, 

And touch with swift revealing sheen. 

'Twas in the turmoil, toward the last. 

When Lee from Richmond strove to flee, 
And hoped the danger to have passed. 

From Grant's hot chasing to get free ; 
When every moment was of price, 

And every stride hoped for the goal, 
When Sheridan, with hold of vise. 

Clings as the fiend clings to a soul. 

Across the hunted army's path 

Young Colonel Read his little band 
Of bluecoats formed, to meet the wrath 

And bring the marching to a stand ; 
Six hundred men to face a host ! 

To hold it ere it passes by ; 
To block its course an hour at most 

Is all they hoped — and then to die. 

Lee's army stumbled in its flight ; 

These heroes' bodies blocked the van ; 
Grant' s hunters held the game in sight. 



34 STRAY LEAVES. 



And tighter gripped Phil. Sheridan. 
Forget him not — young Colonel Read ; 

Forget them not — blue-coated braves ; 
Oh ! memory's sun bring out the deed ! 

They left us nothing but their graves. 

FORT DONELSON. 

Sad through the trees the dreary night wind moans ; 

And cold the snow for weary soldiers' bed ; 
And sadder than the winds our comrades' groans, 

And colder than the snow our comrades dead. 
For three fierce days the battle blast has lasted, 

And all the foe can do we have defied ; 
For three long nights the dauntless men have fasted ; 

And killed and wounded still lie side by side : 
And yet we know the field is won, 
To-day we take Fort Donelson. 

From peaceful homes and loving hearts we came, 

And shouldered arms at our dear country's call ; 
Our souls with freedom's fires were all afiame, 

The stars and stripes flew gaily over all ; 
And foot to foot we marched with eager tread. 

The ''double quick " for our desires too slow ; 
Our brave and trusted leader at the head, 

We only asked to find our country's foe; 
And merrily the march began 
That ended at Fort Donelson. 

On yester morn the foe took up the fight, 

With all their force on our right wing they burst, 
And " charged with all their chivalry " 'till night : 

And we as sternly held them last as first : 
The volleying bullets beat like gusts of hail : 

In bursts of death the live shells murdering leap; 
The rifled cannon shot's unearthly wail, 

And grape and cannister relentless sweep ; 
And of our comrades, many a one 
Lies stark before Fort Donelson. 



COLUMBIA'S CHAMPION. 



35 



Belching white smoke the red tongued cannons roar ; 

Along the line our leveled muskets flash, 
And in the foemen's front destruction pour, 

Defiance shouting with united crash ; 
Then comes the word, clear with the bugles' sound— 
"Charge bayonets! forward, boys ! give them the 
steel ! " 
Down come the gleaming weapons, at a bound 
The long line clears the middle ground, 
And in the hostile works the victor's joy we feel : 
And then the glorious work was done ; 
And there was gained Fort Donelson. 



COLUMBIA'S CHAMPION. 

WRITTEN AT THE TIME OF GENERAL GRANT'S 
LAST SICKNESS. 

When armed rebellion reared its hostile front, 
Columbia seized and drew her long unused 
And rusted sword ; in haste made bright its true, 
Well tempered blade, and quickly showed she bore 
It not in vain. Toward east and west she turned 
Her mighty hand and met her thronging foes. 
The rebel host at Belmont caught the blow ; 
Paducah felt her step as forth she strode 
Toward Donelson, and took the battle by 
The throat, both man and arms at one fell grasp. 
Then stood the shock at Shiloh ; then the strong 
And castled hold of Vicksburg, where the foe. 
Impregnable, scorned at her ; there she smote 
So fierce her flaming brand among their ranks. 
And raged incessant through their manifold 
Environments, that they were fain to yield 
And there surrender all. Then on she moved 
In gathering majesty, where unavenged 
Lay Chicamauga's fatal field, and fought 
The battle over. See ! up Mission Ridge 



She holds her shhiing way, and sets her star 

Bright banner there. Now towards the East she turns, 

And hi the wiklerness she struck, nor once 

Did rest, but blow on blow upon the head 

That proudest reared of all the hostile hosts 

She plied ; and drove him to his Richmond ; there 

She held him fast till Appomatox closed 

The bloody strife. 

Who was the champion true ? 

What was his name who led her sacred feet 

Along the fated way ? Who taught her where 

To strike, and never faltered as he moved 

Along that awful path to victory 

And peace ? Oh ! sure we know his name, our hearts 

All hold it. Men and tender women know 

The name ; and all the children know it well. 

Ah ! may be soon, too soon, we shall in low 

And sobbing whispers speak it ; woe the day ! 

But now, Oh, nation saved ! Columbia free ! 

This hero's name, is it not Grant ? 



THE FRIENDS. 

In Holy Writ the gentle tale is told 

Of Jonathan and David, friends till death ; 

Nor is a fairer story, new or old. 

In praise of friendship sung by poet's breath. 

And too, the pean's loud in Grecian lore 
The names of Pythias and Damon sound ; 

The winds of time their friendship's praises bore 
Fair synonyms of truth, the world around. 

So in our modern age, these very days 
We have our David and our Jonathan ; 

Examples fit to move the tenderest lays 
That ever in the sweetest numbers ran. 



THE TIME OF THANKS. 37 



■ No Damon and no Pythias we need 

To show how noblest friendship may appear ; 

: Our soldier annals tell where highest meed 

Of praise is due, to friendship pure and dear. 

Our David's name is Grant ; our Jonathan 
Is Sherman ; and their hearts as brothers true ; 

Our David writes as only Davids can, 
When he repays his friend for friendship due. 

; When westward they their early battles fought ; 
' When Shiloh's hills and vales with blood grew red, 

I And Grant with words of cheer his heroes sought, 
j To Sherman's truth his soul for comfort sped. 

: How pleasant 'tis the simple words to read 
i Of trust unfailing, and affection deep, 

'■ Of these great men of single-hearted deed ; 

Whose names to love our hearts will ever keep. 

i For one, alas ! our love is edged with grief ; 
j His spirit gone, still seems to hover nigh 

i In patient waiting till his brother chief 
i Is ready to rejoin him in the sky. 

I And whilst he waHs, our hearts with tenderest care 
Turn to the comrade who still with us stays — 

I Let no ill tongue 'gainst either brother dare 

Its shafts unloose, while pass these waiting days. 



THE TIME OF THANKS. 

A time of thanks is when the gentle night 
With restful robes of darkness clothes us in ; 

When eye to eye the stars make silence bright, 
And earth rolls softly, sleep for us to win. 

And when the sun does push his glowing face 
Above the east, when with himself appear 

All things beside ; and wh(^'i from noon the grace 
Of light flows down, the time of thanks is here. 



38 STRAY LEAVES. 



And thanks are meet at shadowy even tide, 

When he that wrought the day sinks to his rest 

When o'er his track the moon sets forth to ride, 
In silver state, and placid splendor drest. 



WRITTEN FOR THANKSGIVING, 1885. 

HELP US THANK THEE, LORD. 

Help US thank Thee, Lord, for all Thy various gifts, 
The good that to us comes of all Thy designing ; 

The strong, full flood of love that ever drifts 
Our days along ; though we repining, 
With doubtful, misty eyes, but ill-defining. 

Miss the restful guiding motion 

That all our burden lifts. 

Thanks to Thee for faith, the precious gift of God, 
That arms our helpless hearts 'gainst Satan's 
storming, 
Whose marching hosts, with terror clang or shod. 

Around our tearful souls come swarming ; 
Then faith descends, our feeble courage warming ; 
Thy blest presence flaming in us, 

All doubt to earth is trod. 

Thanks to Thee, our Father, for our cherished ones 
For whom our hearts are moved with love's sweet 
paining, 
The daughters thou hast given us, and the sons. 
Those who are gone and those remaining ; 
Such order this, we feel the sweet constraining — 
Here abide we or departing. 

Love's course still with us runs. 

And we thank Thee, Lord, for all the guarded way 

Thy hand hath led us ; for Thy loving guiding, 
Tho' weary seemed the road and all astray, 



TO OUR BABY DAUGHTER. 39 

And darkness fell, Thy presence hiding, 
Wliile our uncertain feet were nigh to sliding — 
Thou wert ever close beside us, 

Even as Thou art to-day, 



TO OUR BABY DAUGHTER. 

Sv^eet as any violet, 
And as innocent withal 
Is our little blue-eyed pet; 
Evil hap nor great nor small 
Has our darling blossom met. 
Sorrow's frost, sin's mildew fall, 
Canker care, all harmless yet. 

Blest so may you always grow. 
Pretty flowret, your bright eye 
More of sorrow never show 
Than the dew drops from the sky 
Glistening in the morning's glow ; 
Less of grief be in your sigh 
Than in zephyr's whjsper low. 

Sinless, careless little one ; 

Many days before you lie. 

And the way you now are on 

Stretches to eternity ; 

Endless life may here be won ; 

Glories in the starry sky 

Wait you when your task is done. 

May the Lord in tender love 

Hold your hand the journey through, 

Leading toward the realms above, 

May He keep your footing true ; 

And when time is to remove. 

May He in the angel's view 

All his glorious promise prove. 



40 STRAY LEAVES. 



Life, my little, thoughtless girl 
Is a rough sea and a wide ; 
You hear but the softest purl 
Of its sunny, summer tide ; 
But the waves can fiercely curl, 
High the tossing billows ride 
When the storms their fury hurl. 

But the storms belong to him 
AVho at Moses' outstretched rod 
Drowned plague-hardened Mizraim ; 
At His word earth's mightiest flood 
Shrunk within the ocean's brim ; 
He, of all the worlds, is God, 
To Him bow the cherubim. 

High above life's changeful sea ; j 

Far beyond the stretch of time, 

Reigns He in His majesty, 

Gracious in His might sublime ; 

Then to serve Plim may we be 

Joining in the angel chime 

Praising Him eternally. 



THE GOLDEN MOMENTS. 

Ye golden moments whose uncounted sum 
Exceeds the worth of California's mines ; 

Or that far land, Australia, whereon shines 

The Southern Cross at zenith, and whence come 

Rumors tliat smite old Ophir's heralds dumb ; 
Or all the wealth the rolling sea consigns 
To soundless loss, low where the deep combines 

The age's treasures, in a delveless tomb. 

Yet thriftless mortals, waste ye, without care 

Of that accounting day, when they before 
The Judge must stand, with all earth's millions there 



JUDAII'S DAUGtlTlEllS. 41 



To hear the final reckoning told o'er; 
What spendtlirift then can pay his awful share ? 
From that dread hour we hope, or fear, no more. 



JUDAH'S DAUGHTERS. 

The coal black clouds roll 'thwart the west 
And edge the evenings pallid sky ; 

The lightning smouldering in unrest 
Flares wide and shuts its flashing eye. 

So night-hued tresses shade the cheek 
Of Judah's gentle daughters fair ; 

And sparkling eyes quick favor speak. 
Or gleams of scorn intrusions dare. 

Fair beauty is their portion still, 

Inherited from days of old. 
Kept safe through times of good or ill 

While ages long their circles rolled. 

For graceful form and graceful mien. 
Are heaven's boon to Jewish maid; 

Whilst ease and courtesy serene 
By comely matron are displayed. 

A legend tells us this was given 

For deeds of love and kindness done 

To lowly Jesus, when from heaven 
He came to hear our griefs alone. 

How in the time of His distress. 
When broken with our burden here, 

He trod this wasteful wilderness. 

Through wilds of hate, and malice drear. 



42 STRAY LEAVES. 



Though Jews reviled and Gentiles scorned, 

And His disciples fled away ; 
The women o'er His sorrows mourned 

Nor left Him in the evil day. 

But kindness always did bestow, 

With rerverent love and pity's meed ; 

Nor is there word that any woe 
Touched his meek heart by woman's deed. 

This legend, dear to Christian hearts, 
>^ets forth the sweetness of our Lord, 

And his meek gentleness imparts, 
And tends to peace and fair accord. 

So may it lead the stripe t'assuage 
That Jew and Christian long has held ; 

And calm to peace the murderous rage, 
That all the past with discord filled. 



OH, DREAMING SOUL! 

Oh, dreaming soul, what keeps you still ? 

What sight, ecstatic, holds your gaze ? 
I roam a realm unknown, at will, 

So fair that joy stands all a-maze ; 

One clad in white and crowned with rays 
I met, who said. "This is the ^oal 

Of all true bliss, here meet Hope's ways, 
Oh, dreaming soul." 

" Oh dreaming soul, from this clear hill 

All evil falls ; no foulness stays 
In souls that climb it ; sin nor ill. 

Nor falsehood's taint, nor passion's haze, 

Can rise beneath the searching blaze 
Of Truth's bright beams that flood the whole 

Of this high mount of nightless days, 
Oh, dreaming soul." 



(.I'AIIDIAN J.KillT. 43 

" Oil, dreaming soul, the soothing thrill 

Of heavenly touch all care allays. 
And here Love's pure embracings fill. 

Earth's prayer-worn hearts with heavenly 

praise ; 
The fear and grief of Doubt's dull nays. 
And Death's despair, hence downward roll. 
Dispersed by heaven's full chiming years, 
Oh, dreaming soul." 

Blest is the one wiio here essays, 

In workman garb or priestly stole, 
The peace of him who God obeys ; 
Oh, dreaming soul. 



GUARDIAN LIGHT. 

When night close wraps about the desert drear, 
The glowering moon sinks off the western verge. 
And horror on the lion's roar does surge 

Through all the sea of. darkness, chill with fear ; 

The friends within their sheltering tent draw near 
Together, and the means of safety urge ; 
Then forth with trembling zeal they all emerge, 

And with due means a blazing beacon rear. 

And so in life's wide desert, and dim night, 

We in our tent await the morn of death ; 

In safety we may dwell and comfort sweet. 
If love to God glows in our hearts, and bright 

Maintains, its steady flame, fanned by heaven's 
breath ; 

Its guardian radiance back all foes will beat. 



COMFORT OF THE LIGHT. 

Oh! sweetly comes the sunlight in 
And cheers my failing heart, 

Dissolves the spells of doubt and sin, 
And bids chill fear depart. 

Oh! blessed be my Lord's dear love, 

He always comforts me, 
And shows my soul His smile above 

The world's deep misery. 



LIFE'S MYSTERY. 

Always flowing mysteriously : 
Always moving imperiously ; 

Never missing a single soul, 

But ever with the ceaseless roll 

Of human life ; 

Yes, every one, 
Through all the strife, ^ 

Until they're gone, 

To that dim shore , i 

To that unknown, i 

That dreaded home. 

Whence nevermore 

Can any come. 

Always a flowing. 

This current of mystery 

In the brief history 
Of all our hearts. 
Unweeting, unknowing, 
Still silently moving 

This river of sadness 

Amid all our gladness 
Amid all our loving 
It never departs. 









THE WHITE CROSS. A PliAYEK. THE COMPANION. 45 




THE WHITE CROSS. 




Oil !' purity, sweet peacefulness ; 




Oh ! chastitj' , pure happiness ; 


1 .„ 


Oh ! sanctity, bright blessedness ; 




In what earthly heart 




Have ye any part ? 




In what mortal breast 




Do ye ever rest '? 




In what human soul. 




O'er whose life the roll 




Of Time's waves have gone, 




Do ye any one, 




Or all, side by side, 




For one day abide ? 


^' 


Oh ! peaceful purity ; 




Oh ! happy chastity ! 




Oh ! blessed sanctity ! 




A PRAYER. 




Oh ! God of love, who reigns' t above, 


f 


In mercy look on me. 


■' 


My sins forgive, and make me live ; 




From Satan set me free. 




Let not my heart from Thee depart, 




But closer still be bound. 




That at the last, when time is past. 




With Thee I may be found. 


THE COMPANION. 




Who is this companion. 




Who seeks us, every one ? 




Who follows close, untiring. 




And whom we cannot shun ? 



46 STKAY I.KAVE.S. 



When a friend lie touches, 

How pitiful the gaze 
The sad eyes cast appealing, 

That starts us with amaze. 

Clad in robes invisible, 
His form eludes the sight ; 

Yet blacker than the darkness, 
His presence haunts the night. 

Of this unbid follower, 

We speak with shivering breath 
For our so close companion, 

None other is than Death. 



W^HY I AM I. 

The thought has sometimes come to me. 
Like voices from a silent sky, 

As sudden and mysteriously — 
" How happens it that I am I." 

Though moving in the thronging press. 
Alone I walk "mid many nigh ; 

Alone I bear the world's distress, 
And wonder oft "Why I am I." 

I see how many fare so well. 

From whom all fears and sorrows fly : 
While over me care keepgj his spell, 

I murmuring ask, " Why I am I." 

And when I see what ills befall 

Some suffering lives, until they die : 

My many mercies I recall, 

And wonder more that I am I. 

Sad thousands all their lives grope on, 
To whom (iod's truth is but a lie : 

That truth my heart fast stays upon 
With wonder great, that I am I. 



THE PIONEERS. 



47 



*TnE PIONEERS. 



How peacefully does life move on 

111 this sweet forest home, 
AVhere lovely nature dwells alone. 

And pure joys ever come. 

The joy to see the spring's bright smile 
Glad all things with its beams. 

Tinge soft the greening woods the while 
And gleam from singing streams. 

The joy that feels in summer's breath, 

The sigh of heaven's love ; 
That sings, the gay earth underneath, 

The free sky spread above. 

The joy that now in autumn sees 
In slumberous 'trancing light, 

In golden air and glowing trees 
A dream of pure delight. 

The joy that sings through all our lays. 
The heart throb of the rest ; 

How tireless through our nights and day 
'Tis God's love makes us blest. 



OUR LOVE IS ALL THE WORLD TO US. 

II. SOXG. 

Our songs are but the wild bird's notes, 

And yet all music sweet, sings here, 
And melody, unceasing, floats 

And fills our hearts the live long year ; 
And we do but explain it thus — 
"Our love is all the world to us." 



*The Pioneers was to have been a cantnta, with music, and 
the above song and a few that follows, were written with that 
end in view. S. T. 



48 STRAY LEAVES. 



For pictures, we have other, none 

But those huug round in fields aiul skies, 
And yet, as rises every sun. 

All beauty, smiling, meets our eyes ; 
And we do but explain it thus — 
" Our love is all the world to us." 

Our food, though neither rich nor rare. 
But frugal store, that nature brings ; 
On fruits of paradise we fare. 
And wine of joy, too choice foj- kings : 
And we do but explain it thus — 
" Our love is all the world to us." 

How black a night this world would be, 

Were my beloved called away ; 
No beauty, feast, or melody. 
No joy of hope, of coming day ; 

And we can but explain it thus — 
"Our love is all the world to us." 



THE INDIAN COUNCIL. 

III. SONG.— BRAVES. 

Tireless as the wolf, 
Stealthy as the panther. 

Through the dark of evening, 
Steals the Indian warrior. 

Swiftly on the river. 
In canoe of birch bark. 

Angry as the eagle. 

Swoops the Indian warrior. 

Rushing through the forest. 
As the bear for fierceness, 

Mighty as the grizzly. 

Hastes the Indian warrior. 



THE INDIAN COUNCIL. 49 



With the gleaming hatchet, 

With the sharpened scalp knife, 

With the war paint on him 
Stalks the Indian warrior. 

Filled the horn with powder, 
Filled the pouch with bullets. 

Filled his heart with murder. 
Comes the Indian warrior. 

IV. THE CHIEF. RcclL 

'Tis good, my braves, good ! good ! 
Your faces make my heart like fire. 
That flashing, blasts the pine tree, or as ui 
Tlie dark woods burns the stake fire, fierce around 
The tortured pale face ; or tlie crackling flames 
That soon shall burn upon his cabin roof. 
Your eyes are like the eyes of wolves, that glare 
At night among the frightened forest trees. 

My braves be like panthers to-night ; 

Be hungry as wolves are for blood ; 
Be strong and be deadly in fight, 

Sweep the pale face away like a flood. 

Kill the master and the women, 
Kill the stranger and the hunter, 
Murder baby and mother, 
Dash their brains with the hatchet. 
String their scalps to your girdles. 

Ciioiiu.s — 

Hungry as the wolf, 

Stealthy as the panther, 
Round the peaceful cabin. 

Prowls the Indian warrior. 



50 STRAY LEAVES. 



EVENING SONG OF THE PIONEEK. 

The shades of evening fill the air, 

And dim the autumn's fine wrought gold. 

The evil beast now leaves his lair, 
For darkness makes the evil bold. 

The star's eyes crowd the ample sky, 

Nor wink their lids the long night through : 

And up from where they lowly lie 
Gaze sparkling, all the drops of dew. 

And other eyes the forest sees, 

All baleful staring in the dark, 
Where, echoing midst the shivering trees 

Is heard the wolf's impatient bark. 

But we will trust the love that laid 
The floor of heaven, with orbs so fair. 

And we will love the power that made 

The stars' eyes shine and wolves' eyes glare. 



MOTHER'S SONCJ. 

Sweet babe, sweet babe, so peaceful sleeping 
On my poor heart that dies with fear ; 

Sweet babe, sweet babe, for j-ou I'm weeping 
For murder wakes, and hate is near. 

My dimpled darling, smiling, careless, 
On your dear soul no sorrow lies, 

Your pretty hand, so sweetly helpless, 
Moves but to mark your mother's sighs. 

Your pure face to my bosom turning. 
Your red lips smile against my breast ; 

The fear and horror in me burning. 
Moves not your calm and trusting rest. 

Dear Lord, Thou who wert once a baby. 
To Thy true love I trust my boy ; 

And Thou, my God, the King of safety, 
AVilt turn this terror into joy. 



IN THE WOODS AT T.AKK SUPElJIOlt. 51 



Oh ! lady fair, sing soft for me, 
The song I oft have heard one sing, 

Whose voice, though dead in field and tree. 
Trills in my heart an endless spring. 



IN THE WOODS AT LAKE SUPERIOR. (1881.) 

The scene is solemn sweet. 

As all alone I stand, 
In this wild wood, where trees 

Arise on every hand. 

The dark green changeless pine. 
In stillness pointing up 

To heaven, serene and blue, 
With seeming patient hope. 
That though the summer die, 
There dwells l^eyond the sky 
A Power, will bring aiiother year, 
As bright as this now fading here. 

And see how state lily 

The white birch graceful heaves 
Its golden crowned head. 

And silent weejis its leaves 
As mourning for the dead. 

And the alder and the cedar. 
The yellow ash and gloomy fir. 

And all the various company 

Of bushes dense, and mingling boughs 

With all their multitude of hues, 

Are blended in a harmony 
Of autumn's softest painting there. 



52 STRAY LEAVES. 



And the many colored maple leaves 

Are scattered thick around. 
And form a rustling carpeting, 

That covers all the ground. 

And distant see dim trunks uprear. 
And moving shades of branches sere ; 
The long breathed lake's fresh surges hear, 
And sighing sounds and whispers near — 
Fit forms and hu^s and sounds 
To speed the passing year. 



ONTONAGON. (Ootobeh. 1851.) 

Ontonagon's placid stream, 

Flows as trancpiilly along 
As sweet music, through a dream. 

Or a strain of memory's song. 

Wood clothed banks erst dark and wild. 
Now in autumn's colors drest, 

Peaceful smile as sleeping child 
Lulled by mother's song to rest. 

Bark canoes steal noiseless by, 
Save the paddle's gurgling sound ; 

Indian summer's golden eye 
Gazes slumberously around. 

Gazes deep into m>- heart. 
Fixing there the lovely scene, 

Beauty never to depart, 

Fnmi the spirit's eye serene. 



AT ONTONA(K)N. 

The wild waves roll in from the broad spreading lake, 
And break in white foam on the shore, 

The blue mountains rise far away to the west, 
The winds through the dark forests roar. 



rvOCKS AND ThEES. AUTUMN WOODS. 53 



ROCKS AND TREES. 

Upon a lofty crest of stone. 
Flanked by a gaping fosse. 
And garnished soft with fading moss, 
I sit and muse alone. 

From here the stray leaf wonderingly rides 
Adown these perpendicular sides, 
All idly fluttering till it abides 
Where low the grapevine partially hides 
The rock, with its tendrils o'er grown. 

And whispering, move the summer green trees 
Soft swaying to the freshening breeze, 
Their branches wantonly blown. 

And the sun and the shade, 
That were quietly laid 
On the top of the rock, 
Now each other mock 
In shadowy dance, 
And sun bright glance, 
As the boughs skyward. 
Are backward and forward 
Fantastically thrown. 



AUTUMN WOODS. 

In nature's solitude inviolate. 
Where tall trees reign in regal state, 
And lowly bushes humbly wait. 

And wood sprites haunt, 

Winged sprites, that wont 
Each with familiar note to sing its mate, 

'Tis good to be 
When ripe October mellows all the year ; 

Then come with me, 



54 STKAY LrEAVES. 



Let us together wander there, 

Or we can stand, 

Forest bound on every hand. 
And note how autumn turns tlie green to sere. 

THE AITTUMX. 

The sunniiier days are fled away. 

With all their glory bright ; 

And thne, whose ceaseless footfall light. 

More silent is than autumn's leaves 
That drop to-day, 

Has left the gathering in of sheaves. 
And passes where the corn does lay 

In garners safe when winter white 
Shall blanch the fields and silver every spray. 



DOCnVOOD. 

A LESSONS IN KEDS. 

I know a rounded knoll, that keeps a watch 

Unceasing on the veering winds ; and lies 

Awake to all the sweet uncertainties. 

And bitter blasts, that in their turn possess 

Tir unstable skies ; its head is plumed about 

With even growing trees, a jeweled crown. 

Carmelian, of autunui reddened dogwood ; who 

Can tell how blest it is to lie within 

That crimson shade ? The drowsing sun, with eye 

Half open, gazes down and sifts the light 

In bloodshot gleamings through the ruddy sprays. 

The sere brown sward is faintly tinted by 

The lingering green and with th" ensanguined leaves, 

That strew the ground, a warm congruence makes. 

One seems in this wide realm of lonely sky, 

AVith naught in view save but the slumberous sun, 

And these so full of grace carbuncular trees 

Hot glowing, to lie anear the burning heart 

Of thaf encarmined queen, the sumptuous 

Autumnia. 



NIGHT AND MOllNING. 



55 



NIGHT AKD MORNING. 

The west wind is out in liis miglit, 
And sin-ill is the song that he snigs 

While tinttering falls ^n-ongh the mg t 
The down from the sweep of his wmgs. 

All fair, see the morning arise, 

The shriek of the fierce wuid is still, 

And under the sunbeams soft lies. 
The snow fall on valleys and hill. 



WINTER W^OODS. 

O'pr all the landscape lies the shroud of snow ; 

"" Thfblac^S tries stand up from out the waste, 

A cloud of leafless boughs above them placed 
Can tS be they that llamed in autumn^ glow _ 
Whose flush of bloom, the winds of June dici Diow 
in May, all bloon. besprout, with beauty graced , 
And waked to bud by herald Apn s ha.te^^ 
When rousing up the spring, he foith did go . 
Can these uncomely tWngs.to life leM^e ? 

Or put on robes that lie m beauty's hoaid, 
All safelv kept till vernal months arrive / 

From oVt the silent sky breath forth the woi^ 
'' Oh ! son of man, say, caii these dry bone lye? 
I can but humbly cry, "Thou knowest, Loid. 



A WINTER MORNING. 

In ranks on ranks the curling waves roll wWe, 

Pushed by the tireless and i";patient bla.t 
Like white armed swimmers striving side by side, 
They meet the gliding river's swelhng tide. 
And gleam beneath the sunlight on them cast. 



J56 STRAY LEAVES. 



"i 



The high risen morning sun, with cheerful rays, 

Shijies through the crisp December air, 
And glows within the mountain mansions bays, 
Till bonfire, like the building seems to blaze. 
And darts its brightness o'er the prospect fair. 



A WINTER EVENING. 

The wintry evening air is still and keen, 
The white armed swimmers beat the stream no 

No wrinkles on the rivers face are seen, [more, 

But smooth and fair it lies in tranquil sheen. 

Like kneeling maiden's brow, whose thoughts adore, 

At taper lighted shrine, in place serene. 

Eeflected splendors of the setting day. 
Burn in the windows of the cottage row, 

That far and wide the glory's beams display ; 

Near by the house of pride stands tall and gray. 
Whose arches rich their panes of crystal show, 

Yet catch not nor reflect the vesper ray. 



BY WINTER MOONLIGHT. 

The winter moonlight floods the scene. 
The forest like a marshalled host 
Stands darkling with the distance dim ; 

And nearer, armed in frosty sheen 
Each sentry tree sleeps at his post. 
While wakes his shadow grim. 

In this still time we silent go. 

My love, my heart's sole queen, and I ; 

Her light step keeps in measured pace, 
True time to mine, through spotless snow. 

Where myriad eyes bright sparkling spy, 

Her footprint's dainty grace. 



SHE MET ME BY THE WAY. 



' ' Sweetheart ! my love for you will last, 
While e'er the shining moonlight gleams.' 
Her dulcet voice, in accents low, 

With overtones in laughter cast. 

Said, "What a fib ! the moon's fair beam^ 
When we are dead, will glow." 



SHE MET ME BY THE WAY. 

As on my way I passed with downcast eyes, 
A sudden thrill of some dear presence nigh 
Aroused me. 'Tis my heart's delight, my soul's 
Desire sweeps by in aerial form. Her breath's 
Perfume, sweet odor of warm vernal woods. 
Dwells with me yet. Her azure eyes shot joy 
Through all my soul ; swift as the swallow's flight 
She passed the sullen woods ; some ravelings from 
Her robe's green fringe caught on the south faced banks 
And there remain. And so she comes ! and soon 
Together we our pleasant walks will take 
Amid all dear delight of sweet converse. 
Stay not, oh ! joyful time ! but come apace. 

Ten days agone, I met 
The ruffian winter ; taunting me, he said, 
I never more should see my love, for he 
Would be my death ; with that he thrust at me 
So sorely with his steel cold lance, ground sluirp 
To keen edge by the cruel winds, and strook 
So fiercely at my breast, that even now 
The icy point of that so deadly spear 
Has not all melted from the wound. But now 
She comes ! and with one faint salute she has 
Already greeted me. Oh ! haste, sweet hours. 
And bring my joy ! my love the beauteous spring. 



58 STRAY JL,EAVKS. 



PEIMROSE DAYS. 

One day, 'twas when the winds ol: March were sleej)- 
AU cheated by the smiling, jocund sun, [ing, 

Tlie woods alert, a wistful watch were keeping, 
In hopes that spring already had begun ; 

A primrose odor faint the sense was steeping, ^ 
The bloom time did this sweet perfume forerun ; 

'Tis memory breathes the scent, the priunose is not 

Nor these the woods where primroses are met. [yet. 

Sweet primrose days ! fond memory is recalling 

The time of hope in childhood's far off home, 
And one dear face whereon its light is falling. 

Glows in my heart wherever I may roam ; 
And this sweet day that spring time is forestalling, 

Beneath the brig/itness of this azure dome. 
Fair spring's sweet breath brings primrose days to me. 

And in her face my mother's eyes I see. 



THE FLEMISH BEAUTY. 

When first the bashful spring came forth to woo. 

He rested fitful in thy swelling arms. 
But soon he did as mortal lovers do, 

(irew bolder as he viewed thy growing charms. 

For sweet and frank thy pure white blooms smiled 
bright, 
Not here and there a flower, but covered o'er 
With clusters numberless, till robed in white 

Glad spring's lithe bride her marriage vestments 
wore. 

Now bloomtime gone, thy fleeting frip])ery fled. 
Thou gatherest about thy garments green, 

And towards the sky uplift' st thy stately head. 
And reign'st in loyal hearts, our guardian queen. 



PANSIES. 



59 



PANSIES. 

He paiisies loved, whose soul has fled, 
"They look like faces kind," he said ; 
Bring pansies where the dead boy lies. 
Sweet heartsease with the gentle eyes ; 
There let them watch in meek surprise. 

How touching is this sweet conceit 
For single hearted childhood meet ; 
His short life held this pure delight, 
He loved these flower faces bright, 
Dear friendly faces to his sight. 

His eyes are closed to all earth's pain : 
And if our hope be not in vain. 
His spirit in heaven's garden air, 
(xreets angel faces sweet and fair, 
And heart ease blooms forever there. 



DEPARTING FRIENDS. 

The fair young summer smiles through all the land. 
And lovely flowers — so lovely, smile to greet her ; 
AVhilst spread o'er all the fields at spring's command 
A carpet soft, in various verdure planned. 

Receives the lightsome feet that run to meet her. 

A carpet there — and, too, a pall of peace, 
A robe of hope our sleeping friends to cover, 

To whom life's joys and sorrows ever cease. 

Who rest from labor at their Lord's release ; 
Sweet summer decks them as a mourning lover. 

Our life long friends seem day by day to go, 
And journeying with Death, adieuless, leave us ; 

The company files out, the long lines grow; 

In winter's gloom, and summer's sunny glow 
Unceasingly the sad departings grieve us. 



BO STRAY LEAVES. 



THE WHITE ABUTILLON. 

FAIKY BELLS. 

Our garden fair frets its sweet life awa.y, 
And thinner grows tlie verdure day by day, 
'Tis not so mucli the fear of killing frost. 
As grief for days of summer dead and lost ; 
Sweet cadences of knells for beauty gone 
Toll out upon thy silver bells — Abutillon. 

Thy form is stately, thy complexion fair. 
And golden are the smiles thy lips do wear ; 
Disflowered are thy gentle subjects seen, 
Yet still thou bloomest on, enduring queen, 
To sun and moon thy silver bells peal on. 
And sun and moon smile back on thee, Abutillon. 

'Tis not for ears to hear the chiming bells, 
But in our hearts the tender music swells ; 

Oh ! heart of mine, why lovest thou this flower ? 

For not to love is all beyond my power ; 
Thy silvern- strains in full diapason 
Dream love into my soul for thee, Abutillon, 



WILD ASTERS, 

The rough hillside with grass and bushes grown. 
Had far advanced from verdure towards sereness, 

For hope of beauty with bloomtime had flown ; 

When lo ! one late September morning shone 
On hosts of azure eyes like heaven's clearness. 

It is the host of earth's fair stars, the flocks 

Of sweet wild asters, meek with grace of beauty, 
Whose brightness decks the hills and gems the rocks, 
And at the sombre, threatening autumn, mocks 
And greets the kingly sun with loyal duty. 

And more and more they every morning crowd, 
Till blue lie all the steeps, like heaven seeming. 

With fleeces here and there of whiter cloud ; 

And all this sudden blooming misty shroud 
Is but the drowsy earth of heaven dreaming. 



AtTTtJMN'S TAPESTRY. 61 



AUTUMN'S TAPESTRY. 

In times of old when war was done, 
The battle fought and victory won ; 
The fairest women of the land, 
The artist mind and deftest hand, 
With loom and shuttle ceaselessly 
Adorned the glowing tapestry. 
With pictures fair, with skill inwrought, 
Of battles fierce by heroes fought, 
And all the deeds that valor true 
Achieved for right, rise to the view. 
The fabrics rich were hung around 
Fair palaces where kings were crowned. 

So after spring has passed away. 
With fresh green fields and blossoms gay, 
And summer from the land has Hed 
And left her beauties lying dead ; 
Then Antumn glowing queen weaves fair 
Her tapestries in colors rare ; 
Spring's cloth of gold, and tulip glow 
With summer's fire of scarlet blow, 
And yellow gleam and rosy blush ; 
All join to shine in radiant flush 
In Autumn's tapestry hanging high 
Against the walls of deep blue sky. 

TWO TREES. 

One summer Sabbath long ago. 

We went, a tuneful company 
Of singers to the church below, 

Adown the streamlet's course fared we, 

Beside the stream two trees there grew. 
Such contrasts one might never see. 

Though tens of thousands he might view. 
Such forms of peace and misery. 



62 STRAY LEAVES. 



With spotted trunk and branches gnarled, 

One bent in twists of agony, 
With crooked arms and sprays besnarled. 

Like angry fists clenched at the sky. 

The other, green, arrayed in peace. 

Whilst whisperihgs of felicity 
Stir "mongst the leaves, and when they cease, 

Smooth falls the easeful! drapery. 

Apt emblems, these of human lives. 
Of one to self-willed passions given, 

The other, one who meekly strives 
To live with joy the will of heaven. 



TWO LILIES. 

O lily white, lily white and fair. 
Graceful gracious, stately lily ; 

O lily sweet the evening air 

Is dreaming in thy perfume, lily. 

O lily white, lily white and fair. 
No soul hast thou, O beauteous lily, 

Thy heart thou in thy form dost wear, 
O pure and sweetly bloomiug lily. 

O Lily sweet, lily sweet and fair, 
Oracious, graceful, courteous Lily, 

Sweet maid is she, beyond compare 
A lovlier flower than thou, fair lily. 

Our Lily sweet, Lily sweet and fair. 
Has heart and soul our loving Lily : 

With her pure mind, thou canst not, dare 
Compete, with all thy whiteness, lily. 

O lily white, lily white and fair. 

Golden, smiling, dainty lily. 
Thy love is but an odor rare, 

And cold is all thy sweetness, lily. 



THE POPLAK TKEE. 63 



Our Lily sweet, Lily sweet and fair, 
Golden tempered, laughing Lily ; 

Her lovely eyes are love's own lair. 
He dwells with our warm hearted Lily. 



THE POPLAR TREE. 

The poplar tree this radiant night, 
Stands <iuivering in the mooonbeams fair, 

With garments gathered as for flight. 
Its form seems springing up the air. 
Its eager pointings strive to bear 

It all aloft toward heaven to flee ; 
A homesick angel's longing wear 
The poplar tree. 

The poplar tree bowed to the might 
That drove the storm from out his lair. 

Then upward swayed as all affright 
Lest toward earth it seemed to fare ; 
The tempest fierce 'twere best to dare. 

And skyward struggle to be free. 

For like a flame will heavenward flare 
The poplar tree. 

The poplar tree casts on the white 
Moonsheen a shadow black and spare ; 

And shade and tree wake in the light 
Like Patience watching by Despair ; 
Like Patience rapt in silent prayer, 

And eyes aglow with ecstacy, 

And touching palms stand folded there 
The poplar tree. 

'Tis well I deem so to prepare. 

That when death's hour is come to me, 
I may as peaceful wait as ere 
The poplar tree. 



64 STRAY LteAVteS. 



WHILE SHINES THE MOON. 

While shines the moon — all in a dream 
Of love she floats above the trees : 

A mystic spell lies on the stream. 
The shallop and the lonely qnays — 
The graceful skiff that well agrees 

With all the scene, and that will soon 
The tremor of a lightfoot sieze, 

AVhile shines the moon. 

While shines the moon : the jewels gleam 

On her fair hands, that ply with ease 
The feathering oars; fair hands that seem 

More fit to seal love's sweet decrees. 

With thrilling touch that heartward flees, 
The clasp love covets as his boon— 

Than labor thus, her grief t' appease, 
While shines the moon. 

While, shines the moon with loves own beam, 
This rower fair drains sorrow's lees. 

Nor does she death a monster deem, 
For where the shadows by degrees 
Grow deeper, and the moaning breeze 

Awakes the silence from its swoon — 

The waters use her as they please. 

While shines the moon. 

The floating sight, the hard hearts freeze. 

Though found beneath the burning noon ; 
The lover false, a pale ghost sees. 

AVhile shines the moon. 



'MID AUTUMN LEAVES. 

'Mid Autumn Leaves that whisper dowu. 
And gather on the forest floor ; 

Where sheds the birch its golden crown. 
And redly drops the dogwood's gore ; 



ON Ol-tf SlfRl^.ETS. 65 



Where glowing maples skyward soar 
Pagoda like, with shimmering eaves — 
She moves, and grace steps on before, 
'Mid antunui leaves. 

'Mid autnmn leaves, her creamy gown 
That yields and clings, becomes her more 

Than robes blanched by the father's frown 
That Jepthah's spotless daughter wore. 
Among red victory' s spoils of yore ; 

Her shapely arms full mold her sleeves, 
Her lovely eyes, their fringes lower 
'Mid autumn leaves. 

'Mid autumn leaves, whose rustlings drown 
The scrambling of the timid score. 

Of frightened partridge round and brown, 
Whose fears her tender thoughts deplore— 
The close fired shot with dazing roar 

Appalls her heart — the hunter grieves 
And kneels, her beauty to adore, 
'Mid autumn leaves. 

At Christmas through the chancel door, 

A train tiles in ; the church receives 
A vow first breathed in love's sweet lore, 
'Mid autumn leaves. 



ON CITY STREETS. 

On city streets, the autumn sun, 
Glows placidly these Sabbath days 

And half in shadow lies each one, 
As slanting eastward fall the rays, 
While quiet and a gentle haze 

Of almost silence, still the beats 
Of footsteps and the noise allays 
On city streets. 



60 STKAY LEAVES. 



On city streets ; thoughts backward run 
To that sweet time, wlien by these ways 

My love passed on : nor did slie sliun 
My eager greetings, or tlie gaze 
Of lieart in eyes ; while time delays 

The laden moments full of sweets — 
Ah ! memory, a halo lays 
On city streets. 

On city streets, no cloud, shade dun 

Obscured the day ; its brightness plays 
On all the scene ; yet there begun 

And ended where the maiden strays 

A light I see above the blaze 
Of noon ; and still that radiance meets 

Me, and v^ith all my wanderings, stays 
On city streets. 

On Sabbath after prayer and praise. 

Though years have gone, the dear one meets 
My steps just from the old, old maze 
On city streets. 



SERENADE. 

Peaceful as a flowing river, 

Happy as its murmurnig waves, 

Tranquil as the moonbeams quiver, 
Were the swinging willow leaves, 

May the stream of life flow with you. 

All its waves in ripples die. 
All its shallows golden sanded. 

All the deeps show summer sky. 

May the banks be fringed with beauty, 

Glorious light its eve adorn. 
All the night glance back the star's eyes, 

Heaven its ocean, God the morn. 



THE GOLDEN TKEP^S. 67 



THE (iOLDEN TREES. 

The golden trees in slnmber still, 

Above the rivers' margin grow. 
Along the backgronnd swells the hill, 

While evening's sky is all aglow, 

And all the glory smiles below 
In that fair stream, nor moves the breeze 

Where pictnred lie npon its flow 
The golden trees. 

The golden trees with joy would fill 
The soul, were any there to know — 

But where the rowers teach with skill 
Their light eanoe the way to go. 
Its graceful way, smooth, gliding slow ; 

There shine on that brio;ht mirroretl frieze, 
And sway as on the paddles row, 
The golden trees. 

The golden trees for good or ill, 

Receive this pair arriving so, 
Who in the grove seem on the sill 

Of that sweet door where comes no woe, 

Nor shadow falls of any foe ; 
Where dear love dwells, whence sorrow flees 

There on these two, their treasures strow, 
The golden trees. 

In city ways and time of snow. 

His autumn lover, sweet he sees ; 
She says "let last years' breeze blow 
The golden trees.'' 



68 STRAY LEAVES. 



THE MOTHER'S WORK. 

Tlie mother's work is never done. 

Her term of toil seems never out, 
She rises long before the sun, 

And when he sets, she's still about 
Her task, as though twere but begun ; 

The end lies in the realm of doubt. 
None but a mother's love could face 

The burdens of a mother' s place. 

We see her labor day by day, 

Until our hearts wear hard within, 
And note the debt we cannot pay 

Grow greater like the load of sin ; 
And still at eventide we pray 

" Our debts forgive" — nor once begin 
Our hands to turn to deed of love. 

And mother's weight of toil remove. 

When, in the time to come, we look 

Back to these years, and all too late 
We think of her, who rest forsook 

First of the house, to stir the grate 
And set the morning meal to cook. 

Who did with loving initince w.ilt, 
Until the clock the tuj would show 

When she to wal. i each must go. — 

How will our aching hearts recall 

The dear bright voice that spoke our names, 
Each in our turn, as did befall, 

As shop, or school, or office claims 
Each one ; she cheerly wakens all ; 

And for our ease and conuort aims — 
Dear voice that silent then must be. 

Thank God ! still lives to comfort me. 

And when returning from our toil, 
The mother's voice still greets each one, 

From day's long labor and turmoil : 
With cheering laugh and grateful fun 



HAPPY HE. 



m 



To vexing care a perfect foil. 

She welcomes all, forgetting none ; 

Then let's make haste, while yet we may, 
And lighten mother's work each day. 



RONDO. HAPPY HE. 

Happy he who a home possesses, 

A home where peace and content abide, 
Where love awaits whatever betide ; 

And where rested hope tired doubt caressed 

Where the mother's presence ever blesses, 
And the children cast all care aside ; 

Happy he who a home possesses, 

A home where peace and content abide. 

The homeless heart the joy ne'er guesses, 
That in dear home do ever reside, 
Or how the grief in our hearts that hide. 

Flee all away from its bright recesses, 
Happy he who a home possesses. 



GIRLS AND BOYS. 

The first born was a baby girl 
Of pure and fair complexion. 

Camellia tinted like a pearl. 
She seemed to our attection. 

So others thought, or so they said, 
For whether pleased or pretty. 

Such terms they used, the child was led 
To speak her first word, "pretty." 

Then after, we were blessed with boys, 

(To memory like a drama) 
Each one. the same dear name employs. 

To ope' life's speech with "mamma." 



STRAY LEAVES. 



So now, to please the girls full-grown, 
(The test seems rather pettj^ ) 

Although the fact they may not own — 
Say's though you mean it, "pretty." 

And then the boys — or men, perhaps, 
AVill say without a stammer. 

They will, both big and little chaps — 
"The best word still is "mamma." 



QUESTIONING. 

A EOVE SONG. 

Blue Eyes ! do you love me. Blue Eyes ? 

Oh tell me Sweet Lips, tell me true, 
Without doubt or any surmise : 

Blue Eyes, Sweet Lips, tell me true. 

Yesterday I asked you this, 
And this morning, 'mid the dew ; 

Now, when June and evening kiss, 
This constant question I renew. 

Now I hold your clasping hand. 

And I look you through and through, 

Answer my true love's demand. 
To all my soul entreating you. 

I can never cease this teazing ; 

Voice and eye and touch anew. 
Every blissful moment seizing, 

Alone with bliss and you, I sue. 

Evening prim has fled away. 

Leaving hushed night, listening to 

Soft winged words my Love's lips say, 
That singing to my fond heart flew— 



life's busy scene. 71 



Blue Eyes, do you love me, Blue Eyes ? 

You tell me, Sweet Lips that you do, 
Heuce ! pale doubt aud haltiug surmise ; 

Blue Eyes, Sweet I.ips, tell me true. 



LIFE'S BUSY SCENE. 

In the busy scene of life, 
Life's busy changing scene. 
The fleeting morn 
Swift past is borne. 
And is as tho' it ne'er had been 
In the busy scene of life. 

In the busy scene of life, 

Life's busy restless scene, 

The highest noon 

Descends so soon. 

We fail to catch its brightest sheen 

In the busy scene of life. 

In the busy scene of life. 
Life's busy shifting scene. 
The night is come, 
Our hearts are dumb, 
And darkness falls before we ween 
In the busy scene of life. 

In the busy scene of life, 

Life's busy, passing scene 

To heaven above, 

May we in love, 

Believing look for joy serene, 

In the busy scene of lite. 



STRAY LEAVES. 



A-WEARY. 

How weary one may become at times, 

Of the steady battle of life ; 
The path that ever painfully climbs, 

And the always beginning strife. 

At noon we rise with the stored up power, 
That we gather in time of rest, 

Only to waste it all hour by hour, 
By the conflict sorely oppressed. 

The fight to drive the wolf from the door. 
Though all we love best be within, 

We sometimes feel, when the day is o'er. 
We can never again begin. 



TAKE YOUR CHOICE. 

There's much in the saying — "Take your choice; 

For by it one may forever mourn; 
Thereby one may forever rejoice; 

It means, to be happy or forlorn. 

His lot was better than fortunate 

Whose choice was a certain clear-eyed maid, 
Who gave lier consent to be his mate; 

Whose truth his heart's trust never betrayed. 

For peace as perfect as ever comes 
From earthly sources to any heart; 

That joy awakens, and care benumbs 

Flows from the choice he made at the start. 

Again he essayed to "take his choice;'' 
And took the gospel as God's sweet truth; 

Betimes he heeded the Saviour's voice; 

Chose Him for his guide and stay in youth. 



THE GIANT. 



And now when age comes striding apace 
The choices he made bring nought but joy; 

Contented lie runs liis mortal race 

Nor death has power his peace to destroy. 



THE GIANT. 

Surely, nowhere 'neath the sun 

Is a sterner battle set, 
Or a victory harder won 

Than the fight with giant, Debt. 

Hour by hour, and day by day. 
Year by year, the war goes on, 

Without eitlier let or stay; 
And the armor if you don. 

Passes human wit to say 
When the sword aside you'll lay. 

Youthful hope and purpose strong 
Gives stout battle to the foe; 

But the weary watches long. 

Ceaseless fight and progress slow, 
Inch by inch, for blow by blow. 
Pangs the heart with many a woe 

Ere you sing the victor's song. 



LOVE ME LITTLE, LOVE ME LONG. 

SONG. 

When dear content doth dwell within the heart, 
When doubt and fear and care depart, 

Amid the peacefulness 

Of deepest thankfulness, 



74 STRAY LEAVES. 



There's not a thought more sweet 
Than th' okl words so meet 
Of that love mspu-ed song: — 
Sweet words. 
True words. 
" Sweet heart. 
True heart, 
Love me little, love me long.'' 

Thou dear old garden where fair lilies grow, 
Where roses and carnations blow, 
Sweet brier and mignonette, 
Heart ease and violet; 
Thy breath is not so sweet 
As th' old words so meet 

Of that love perfumed song — 
Sweet words. 
True words, 
" Sweet heart, 
True heart. 
Love me little, love me long." 

When all the heart o'er flows with love's desire, 
And pulses throb with passion's fire, 
And reason all asleep 
With love's mad potion deep; 
There's nought therein so sweet 
As th' old words so meet 

Of that love controlled song — f 

Sweet words, ', 

True words, . 

' ' Sweet heart, ^ 

True heart, : 

Love me little, love me long." : 



ELIZABETH. 75 



ELIZABETH. 

FOR AN ALBUM. 

The queenly name, Elizabeth, 

Sails swanlike down the Hood of time; 

Bj- history's pen, and poet's breath 

Set forth in statelj' page and sounding rhyme. 

Elizatbeth, the closest friend 

Of Mary, mother of the Lord; 
Who all her secret ponderings kenned, 

And all her wondering joys and sorrow heard. 

Then ages after, lo! the three 

Elizabeths by Spenser sung; 
The mother, wife, and queen, that he 

Securely placed the shining stars among. 

Then fair Elizabeth of France, 

Bright spouse of Spain's dark minded king; 
Whose fame fixed high beyond all chance, 

Through halls annalic still does sweetly ring; 
Her name from Spanish lore can never cease — 
The gentle "Isabella of the Peace." 

May all their graces, and their virtues too. 
My fair named maiden, dwell and shine in you. 



WRITTEN IN A LADY'S ALBUM. 

Ah little book we can but envy thee. 

That her«weet eyes shall look into thy heart; 

Those wistful eyes that gaze entrancedly, 
And from whose light 'tis darkness to depart, 



76 STRAY LEAVES. 



Thou carest not for her dear hand's caress; 

Of all the bliss therein thou knowest nought; 
Her gentle hand that touches but to bless, 

Whose thrilling grasp with ecstasy is fraught. 

And when her lips read what is written here, 
The softness of the tones cannot thee move; 

The pleasant music to our hearts so dear. 
The melting words, the melody of love. 



FRIENDSHIP AND BELLA. 

Dear heaven-born friendship, thou who canst assume 
A spirit shape, or human form ; Oh, come 
With voice of dulcet tone and smiling eyes, 
With heart in hand, and all familiar guise 
Thou usests to thy favorites; and bless 
Therewith sweet Bella, whensoe'r her heart 
Is in complaisant mood to thy caress. 
Responsive to the bliss thou canst impart. 
But should impatience in her dark eyes gleam. 
Or her fair brow with wrath be clouded o'er — 
Then friendship, come as angel in a dream. 
Some spirit form put on of thy rich store, 
Impalpable, unwoundable, and hide 
Thyself within her heart, and there abide. 



AS AN ANGEL SINGS. 

Time passes, yet he ever brings 
The praises of the many, 

AVho say "she like an angel sings," 
And this they say of Annie. 

The G. A. R. will always say. 
Who know as well as any, 

"There sings on Decoration day 
An angel — first name, Annie." 



SONNET. ^1 



In church her voice on Sunday rings, 
And fills each aisle and cranny; 

A ministering angel sings, 
Fair, choir adorning Annie. 

In concert, all she pleases there, 

From baby up to granny; 
An "Angel ever bright and fair," 

Is our sweet singer, Annie. 

A little cherub (minus wings), 
A maid whose name is Fannie, 

When questioned how an angel sings, 
Says — "Angels sing like Annie." 

And may she so continue long 

In air and ballad canny; 
Or in the Holy Christmas song, 

Sweet singer angel, Annie. 



SONNET. 

TO A LADY. 

One lovely night the harvest moon rose fair, 
And higher as she sailed she lovelier grew, 
Serener in her beauty as she drew 

Anear her highest realm, and floating there 

Her perfect brightness all beneath her share, 
Her love arousing smiles filled all the view, 
And at the river's heart such glance she threw 

That with her beams his breast is all a-flare. 

And so with you, fair friend, who sweeter grow. 
And lovelier seem as Time pursues his way; 

And higher on the journey as you go. 

The brighter are the charms that you array 

Of glowing beauty, shed on form and face, 

And smiling in your eyes dwells gentlest grace. 



STRAY J^EAVES. 



TO A FAIR ARTIST. 

O, dark eyes full of grace ! 

And the low burning artist fire, 
Quick flashing out in flames, that chase 

Bright forms of beauty, and inspire 

Her soul alert with art's desire. 

O, eyes of furtive glance! 
Unconsciously so full awake 

To all that past, their vision dance; 
She wisely chooses what to take, 
And deftly use for art's dear sake. 

O, splendor of those eyes! 

Illumine all my soul throughout; 

She haply there some gem espies, 
Kept close with tongueless guards about. 
Some thought of price she singles out. 

O, dark eyes full of light! 

We after many days may see 
The work her cunning fingers sleight. 

On her revealing canvas free 

Has done with thoughts she found in me. 

O, sweet eyes full of ruth ! 

Then this dull heart with hope might glow, 
Sweet comfort come in very truth; 

And her discovering brightness show 

I one poetic thrill did know. 

O, dark eyes full of dreams! 
1 leave you with your sweet conceits 

To follow out your artist themes 
E'en to there innermost retreats, 
Where nature's heart in silence beats. 



THE FAIR LADY. 



IW 



O, dark eyes full of grace ! 
It needs not that she think of me; 

I bless her gentle mobile face, 
And wish her all prosperty, 
Sweet peace, and full felicity. 



THE FAIR LADY. 

Behold, where grace steps on with beauty crowned! 

Whose silvery robe her bosom wimples o'er. 
And closer clings her shapely waist around. 
Then flows its willowy way towards the ground, 

Nor hides the instep trim that twinkles on before. 

Her pearly columned stately neck sustains 

The patient, dimpled chin; and smiling there 
The roseleaf lips exhale perfume, and strains 
Of odorous vocal thought, sweetness that gains 
Due note of shell pink ear, and nostril straight and 
fair. 

Her "painted lady" cheeks, smooth turn below 
The gaze of eyes all full of loving light. 

And largesses and longings in them glow; 

Beyond their true turned arches, comely show 

Fair brows, like moonlit bays, gold margined, rip- 
pled, bright. 

A white winged angel may appear more fair 
To heavenly sight, but to a mortal's eyes 

There's nought more lovely than this lady rare. 
With beauty crowned, and clad in silvern guise. 



FAIR WINSOME JEAN. 

Fair winsome Jean all hearts has won, 
And surely holds her gentle sway ; 

Her witching voice such spells has spun, 
That willingly we all obey, 
And would not if we could, say nay 

To her behests, melodious queen ; 
Songs high regalia fit array. 

Fair Winsome Jean. 



80 STRAY LEAVES. 



Fair winsome Jean ; how well was done 
The gypsey's part, so naive and gay, 

AVhere Arline's varied course is run, 
Full throated warbling all the way, 
From wandering tents, all weather gray, 

To "marble halls" with gilded sheen ; 
There shone the bright star of the play. 

Fair winsome Jean. 

Fair winsome Jean cared not to shun 

High rivalry, nor did she weigh 
The odds that shone in Scalchi's sun : 

Nor Campinni did affray 

Her song full heart ; nor did she stay 
Her conquering steps from that fair scene : 

Our hearts esteeming high as they. 

Fair winsome Jean. 

In sacred praise on Sabbath day, 

Her lovely voice we sweetest ween, 
When soars toward heaven in holy lay, 

Fair winsome Jean. 



SAINT VALENTINE. 

A SONG FOR TWO. 

Sh£. — I'm dreaming now. Saint Valentine ; 

Oh ! dream come true that shows him mine ; 
For whose true love my heart does pine, 

With sweet love's longing : 
But he cannot my thought divine 
Except you aid my dear design, 
O lover's aid. Saint Valentine ; 

'Twill be no wronging. 

He. — I'm dreaming now, Saint Valentine, 
A dream of her that she is mine. 
For whom my burning heart does pine 

With sweet love's longing ; 
But she must not my thought divine ; 
To my bold words, your name I sign, 
lover's sliield. Saint Valentine, 

'Twill be no wronging. 



THE VALENTINE. 81 



They. — Oh ! dreaming sweet, Saint Valentine : 
Oil ! dream come true, the bliss is mine ; 
My heart is full, but does not pine, 

Of sweet love's longing : 
My love does all my thought divine 
In spite of your so deep design. 
Ah ! tell tale, false, sweet Valentine, 

Still 'tis no wronging. 



THE VALENTINE. 

"She in a marble palace dwells, 
And all delight 
Is she ; 
The azure dome of heaven swells 
O'er none so bright 
To me. 
I fear to ask her to be mine 
But trust to good St. Valentine." 

A youth, this to his spirit tells — 
When ! Oh ! delight, 
"lis she ! 
In her sweet eyes affection wells, 
His fears take flight 
To see. 
His heart indites a lovefuU line 
And trusts to good St. Valentine. 

Fair fortune casts her happy spells 
For their delight ; 
And she 
The fairest of dame fortune's belles 
In love not light 
Will be. 
But loving meets his love's design. 
And trusts to good St. Valentine. 



82 STRAY LEAVES. 



A VALENTINE. 

The birds, my love 

Do not yet sing, 
Tliongh in my heart they twitter 

Soon comes tlie spring, 

My sweet sweet dove. 
Soon ends the winter bitter : 

Then sing 

My love 
Fast flies the winter bitter. 

I send my love 

This valentine ; 
My heart goes with the sending, 

And throbs — "be mine ;" 

My sweet, sweet dove ; 
Oh ! sing my bliss unending 

Be mine, 

My love ; 
My song of bliss unending. 



A FREE RENDERING OF THE LAST. 

DOS WOLUNDINE. 

I gif mine love 

Dose wolundine, 
Ah ! sees so lofely gritter, 

Mine Katerine ; 

Mine dortle dofe ; 
Mine hert vos most dimes mitt her. 

Sees mine 

Mine lofe. 
By Shorge ! ven I vos mit her. 



A SERENADE. 



83 



A SERENADE. 

Oh raise your fringes lovely eyes, 
Let forth the wonders of the light, 

Unveil the ravishing surprise, 

My watching soul fill with delight. 

Think not I slight the beauteous form ; 

The twinkling step and motion free ; 
The speaking lips with smiling warm ; 

The parted tresses witchery. 

But most I love those loving eyes. 

For there love always sleeps and dreams ; 

Oh ! let the vision on me rise, 
My stars ! my stars ! shed forth your beams. 



SUMMER NIGHT SERENADE. 

The tender sky this fragrant summer night 
Bends o'er us with its chosen band of stars ; 

The fair young moon bestows her parting light 
While waiting till the West his doors unbars* 

And at my lady's bower I wait and sing 

To distant chords of dreamy midnight chimes ; 

Up o'er her lattice, sweet the rose vines cling 
And up the throng of shell pink roses climbs. 

And looking in, entranced they there abide ; 

There all night's beauty breathes in mortal guise, 
Where close the rose shell lids in slumber hide 

The blue and love starred heaven of her eyes. 



LOVE'S WAY. 

I went love's way one day ere I knew ; 

I passed the marge of a pond, 
A maid nigh drowned, I suddenly view ; 

I plunged, and brought her to land. 

Her shell pink hand in mine she did rest, 
She steadied her white feet bare ; 

Her panting heart throbs close to my breast, 
She blinds my eyes with her hair. 

"Sweet heart ! I love you fast then I cried. 
My arm shall hold you, life through :" 

" You see not for my curls," she replied ; 
' ' Yes love sees all love need do. ' ' 

Then from the marsh I took her apace. 

And tenderly sat her down ; 
Her tresses fell away from my face, 

I lost my glorious crown. 

And she is mine, and forever mine ; 

Her sweetness mine all shall be : 
I bless the day her ringlets fair twine 

Hid not her beauty from me. 



RONDO, SING ON. 

Sing on, O tuneful heart ! keep singing 
The themes that thou lovest, for evermore : 
Oh, thrilling voice break forth and adore : 

To the waiting winds thy songs outflinging. 

That praises of love and beauty winging 
May alight on the souls talit love thy lore. . 

Sing on, O tuneful heart ! keep singing 
The themes thou lovest for evermore. 

gentle heart, from heaven down bringing 
Refrains by the angels sung before. 
While sweetest tones earth's lutings upbore, 

Are to thy dulcet harmonies clinging. 
Sing on, O tuneful heart, keep singing. 



DOWN BY THE SEA. 85 



DOWN BY THE SEA. 

Alone I pace tlie shelving? saiuls, 
With footsteps silenced by the bands 

Of rythmic surges breaking : 
Prone on the distant bank reclines 
A winsome shape of fairest lines 

Like me the press forsaking. 

Her elbows down, in silhouette 
The sweetest face I ever met 

On shapliest liands is resting. 
The dreaming, floating clouds on high 
Seem hanging from the hiding sky ; 

The sun is near his westing. 

Alive with ripples, gloomy blue 
That gently sway, the sea in view 

Reflects the heaven's shading ; 
While up aloft one pearly cloud 
Of softest form, shows from the crowd 

Whose brightness all is fading. 

One lingering gleam the sun's eye sheds ; 
A rosy flush the cloud o'erspreads ; 

And lights the billows rolling. 
Meanwhile my blind unheeding feet, 
Have wandered near the lady sweet. 

Who noticed not their strolling. 

She started up : I lowly bowed ; 
And fairer than the pearly cloud 

Her cheek the rose is flushing ; 
For subtler artis^ than the sun, 
Sweet love's qui .k touches deftly run 

And light her smiles with blushing. 



86 STRAY LEAVES. 



ALACK ! FOE TKUTH ! 

Alack ! for truth ! 'twas but in May, 
When on the steamer's deck thej- sighed. 

Their lover's vows in lover's way, 
And promised, let what would betide, 
Their love should ever true abide : 

With sobs and tears, and mutual ruth 
They parted at the vessel's side : 

Alack ! for truth. 

Alack ! for truth ; the salt sea spray 

Showered up the bows, and ocean wide 
Spread on to meet the coming day ; 

The maid forlorn had well nigh died ; 

Her tender heart so sorely tried 
At parting with her gallant youth ; 

Had not hope risen starry eyed ; 

Alack ! for truth. 

Alack ! for truth ; her gallant gay. 

Whose soul to her's is fast affied. 
In sorrow homeward, sails the bay ; 

His tearful eyes will not be dried ; 

And hope will fail, howe'er he chide, 
Whilst anguish bites with adder tooth ; 

The pain and grief he cannot hide. 

Alack ! for truth. 

The ship brings back the maid a bride ; 

'Tis but July, to say the sooth : 
Him too she finds in like bonds tied. 

Alack ! for truth I 



KATE AND RUTH. 87 

KATE AND RUTH. 

BALLADE. A DOUBLE REFRAIN. 

When the teams oe'r the beach at their best pace 
swing ; 

And the surf tumbles in to their time and gait ; 
When the gulls in the sun glance with breezy wing, 

Then rejoice in the brightness of laughing Kate : 

But when quivering shades by the green oaks 
wait, 
Where the brook broadly spreads out its waters 
smooth ; 
And the squirrel chirrups to the squirrel's mate, 
Oh ! give me the brown eyes of gentle Ruth. 

Where the many lights gleam, and the waltzers 
cling, 
When the whirl of the dance speeds at highest rate, 

And the passionate notes on the pale night ring, 
Then rejoice in the brightness of laughing Kate : 

But when sweet stars glisten e're the moonrise late ; 

Where the old, old sea whispers soft as youth ; 
And all thoughts, but love thoughts seem out of date. 

Oh give me the brown eyes of gentle Ruth, 

When the play house gleams, and the donnas sing ; 

Where the stage glitters bright in its moving state ; 
Where the knight warbles tenor to the basso king, 

Then rejoice in the brightness of laughing Kate : 

But by cheerful fire of dear home sedate ; 
When the love songs are love songs in very sooth ; 

Where the poets are read to hearts elate, 
Oh give me the brown eyes of gentle Ruth. 



88 STRAY LEAVES. 



L'ENYOY. 

When gaiety sails, with pleasure for freight, 
Then rejoice in the brightness of laughing Kate : 
But when love lies at anchor with hold in truth. 
Oh give me the brown eyes of gentle Ruth. 



THE SLEEPING SEA. 

A SONG FOK TWO. 

Site. — I gaze upon the sleeping sea. 

Sleeping and dreaming treachery ; 
I mourn for him who is lost to me, 
The true, the brave, and loving one 
Returning never : 
Slain by the insatiate sea ; 
Drowned by the insensate sea ; 

His true, and brave and loving heart 
Stilled forever. 

He. — I sail upon the sleeping sea, 

Sleeping, that bears me tenderly 
To her, who constant, waits for me; 
The true, and fair, and loving one : 
Delaying never, 
Speeding on the favoring sea. 
Hasting o'er the helpful sea, 
I come ! dear, true, and loving heart, 
Thine forever. 

They. — Oh ! love ; thou art a boundless sea; 
Sleeping and dreaming peacefully 
To those who put their trust in thee : 
The pure, and true, and gentle heart 
Betraying never ; 
Launched upon this trustful sea. 
Sailing o'er this blissful sea, 
In company, content sail we ; 
Sail on ever. 



THE SLEEPING CITY. 89 

MIDNIGHT. 

Now when all sounds of life are hushed and mute, 

And earth unsunned has chilled the midnight air ; 

We stand upon the mountain side, and see 

The silent mist fill all the vales, and swell 

Up slow between the island peaks : meanwhile 

The supreme moon un'tended save by one 

Meek star, nor any wandering cloud to share 

Her loving smile; pours all her glories on 

The sleeping earth ; and paints the fleecy mist, 

A garment vestal white; and lo! we see 

Th' apparelled spirit of the virgin world 

Appear ; the world that was ere Satan's touch 

Had smirched her robes with sin. — And not a sound 

To mar the soul entrancing harmony 

Of silence. Whisperless, all earth and sky. 



THE SLEEPING CITY. 

O placid, holy night ! dark mother of 

The stars; who leadest forth thy gentle brood. 

All pure and tender rayed, across the fields 

Of heaven: how wonder-eyed thy gaze is bent 

Upon the gorgeous robe that overlaps 

The slumbering form beneath thee. 'Tis the nymph 

Ideal of our city, goddess bright; 

Brown cheeked and sable tressed, with wondrous eyes 

Of glowing opal, now closed, fringed in sleep. 

Upon her sloping couch she lies this night 

Of stars. And now the free winged western wind. 

The muses willing handmaid, liists away 

Th' obscuring vapor from the brilliant scene. 

Oh, night! where else seest thou a counterpane 

Like this? No orient princess ever wore 

A robe so rich so gem bestrewn, and so 

With jewels set. The gems are living flame 

Etherial; kindred of the lightning flash ; 

And of the North Aurora's sparkling jets. 

And jewels rare whose glowing radiance is 

The unprisoned spirits of the inner earth, [waked — 

Brought up from depths where light has never 

And all the border glints with argent light. 

That flows about her regal, resting feet. 



90 



STRAY LEAVES. 



THE NEW COURT HOUSE. 

The azure sky spreads over all, 

So frank and clear, so pure and deep ; 

From out it soul heard voices fall. 

Like tones of loved ones heard in sleep. 

To look up from the city street, 
And see the Law's cathedral tower, 

Whose granite walls the blue sky meet, 

Thrills the quick mind with beauty's power. 

The Builder's, like the Poet's art 
Inherits from the times gone by ; 

His soul's forefather's wills impart 
Their treasured beauty, when they die. 

Egypt and Greece, and robber Kome, 
The Eastern empire, and the West ; 

And then, Angelo's matchless dome, 
Milan, and Venice, and the rest. 

And where in Brittain's ancient land, 

(Whence came our art — poor, Pilgrim sires,) 

Rare palaces and castles stand. 

And great cathedrals point their spires. 

So in this structure we descry 

The tower, the arch, the bridge of woe, 
(A thing of beauty to the eye) 

Nor '' Coign of Vantage," need forego. 



Whilst leaving all, in upward flight. 

The grand square tower grows toward the sky. 
And lives its nearest to the light, 

To point where fancy's dreamlands lie. 



A VIEW OF PITTSBURGH. 91 



A VIEW OF PITTSBURGH. 

From off the sheer overlooking height 
That bounds Monongahela's stream, 
We view the prospect with delight, 
New wonders meet the roving sight 
In numbers that nigh endless seem. 

The gleaming northern river flows 

Right forward, with a bridegroom's rush : 
And softly on to meet him goes 
The eastern stream, and soon they close. 
Thence wend as one in love's sweet hush. 

And on their borders, and between, 

The cities stand ; and o'er the hills 
The dwellings backward crowd the green, 
While tower and spire adorn the scene ; 
xlnd rising ground the prospect fills. 

The many graceful bridges span 
The rivers on their busy course ; 

And moving trains, and boats we scan ; 

And all the powers the Master — Man, 
Has tamed to aid him with their force. 



WESTWARD HO! 

When life so far its day has sped 
That all the shadows eastward fall ; 

And our acquaintance 'mongst the dead, 
Are more than they who living, call 

Us such, by ties of friendship led ; — 

We backward look along the shade 
And gleam of life's long varied way, 

What forms and faces glow and fade, 
Obscured, or touched by cloud or ray, 

As love looks forth in memory's aid. 



92 STRAY LEAVES. 



And then how dear the presence is 
Of those who trod the waj^ along 

In company, who shared the bliss 
That us befell, and joined the song, 

Nor did the grief and burden miss. 

'Tis good to take them by the hand, 
As we discourse of other — those 

Who joined or left the journeying band. 
That ever thinner, smaller grows, 

And lighter marching treads the land. 

But if the shadows eastward lie, 

The light comes streaming from the West 
Then toward its brightness let us hie, 

Move onward to the realm of rest ; 
And doffing sorrow, lay it by. 



THE MYSTERY OF LIFE. 

Life's mystery keeps always nigh us, 
Though we forget amid the flush of joy. 

Still when some shape of death flits by us, 

Mysterious thoughts, and doubts our souls employ, 

We view the lives beside us moving. 

How heedless on they fare, nor think of fate. 

Nor care at all for Death's reproving. 
But folly early seek, and seek it late. 

Our yesterdays slip from our keeping, 

The fleeting present will not with us stay ; 

The morrows roll in on our sleeping. 
Sea billows like and spaced from day to day. 

No man can teach of these matters. 

No mortal knows enough to tell the tale. 

The mystery his reasons scatters, 

Within its sombre gloom his glances fail. 

'Tis known alone to God who made us. 

The mystery shines bright and clear to hiiu ; 
His word tells all we need to aid us. 

To walk in light throughout life's arches dim. 



SEEING, THEY SEE NOT. 93 



SEEING, THEY SEE NOT. 

How bright the radiance that illumes 
The poet's mind, and ever shines 

On common things, till each assumes 
A glorious semblance, that assigns 

Them places high in Fancy's rooms. 

And yet how very few there be 

Who any beauty find in this. 
Who ever solve the mystery 

That fills the artist's soul with bliss, 
Or poet's cunning alchemy. 

And so with those who nobly live, 
The true and honest-hearted ones, 

Who heaven's plain writ rules receive, 
Of righteousness the willing sons, 
And who in heavenly love believe. 

For this, the many have no care. 
Their hearts are given to motions low. 

And of all right desires are bare. 
Nor burn with one unselfish glow 

Who throng the downward thoroughfare. 

And thus it is with parties too, 
Whose politics with wrong is foul. 

Whose sins are great and good deeds few. 
Who for their crimes should weep and howl, 

Whose life is to destruction due. 

The just man will disdain to give 

Allegiance or support to those 
Who solely by injustice live. 

Who violence to right oppose, 
And only on the evil thrive. 



94 STRAY LEAVES. 



PITY 'TIS, 'TIS TRUE. 

Ther's much pity for the men who work for little 

pay, 
Who labor for a dollar and fifteen cents a day. 
But the pity that's not wasted is more like to fall 
On the poor unfortunates who have no work at all. 

And there is much pity spoken for the toiling maid. 
Who spends the week in labor that is but poorly 

paid. 
But more pitiful it is, more full of heart-break too, 
To think of all the willing, who have no w^ork to do. 

And much pity is expressed for clerks whose hours 
are long, 

And sympathy is shown when they strive to right 

the wrong. 
But the pity that more moves the sympathetic mind, 
Is for the many seeking ones who no work can find. 



THERE IS NO FUN IN IT. 

1 thought in pleasant terms to sing the current 

Boycotts praise, 
Good humoredly to troll some twitting, chaffing lays ; 
So approached the sleeping creature, to get a nearer 

view, 
For even what is writ in fun, should still be written 

true. 

But looking on the Monster, soon put laugh and fun 

to flight ; 
For only horror brooded on the form that met the 

sight. 

When like a huge Cephela pod, it lay upon the flood ; 
And stained the social waters with the fearful tint of 
blood. 



THE GLOKIOUS^NEW ERA. 95 



Its thousand arms stretched forth to kill all that 

stand in its way ; 
And each defenseless man and wife clutch as its 

lawful prey : 
And suck the breath from out the babe, and choke 

its feeble cry ; 
And hurry forth the grandsire's life, who asks but 

time to die. 

The greater excommunication of the Church of Rome, 
Must sire the Boycott ; his fierce dam first made her 

howling home 
At Paris, in the days of blood her horrid form was 

seen, 
Her name— The Terror ! her red hand swayed sharp 

the guillotine. 

Her son— the Boycott; kinship in him claim all 

fiends of hell ; 
Fierce Apollyon. Satan Chief, Belial foul, and 

Moloch fell. 
Well it behooves our yet unshackled country have a 

care, 
liCst Terror's Son write in his fateful lists, who not 

to spare. 



THE GLORIOUS NEW ERA. 

The glorious new era is just now beginning ; 

'Tis a fortunate thing to be born about now. 
Even Satan, the lion, turns his roaring to grinning. 
As the New Era's ideas get into his pow. 

The glorious new idea for money and labor, 
Is— the shorter the hours the longer the pay ; 

If the neighbor be rich, then love to your neighbor 
Means for love to his soul, take his riches away. 



96 STRAY LEAVES. 



The glorious new idea in matters connubial, 

Is, when you tire of your mates then have a divorce ; 

For longer to wait is held to be true by all 
New Era folks to be cause for remorse. 

The New Era idea is — trade combinations 
May all right from the individual take. 

And 'tis hoped pretty soon for the use of the nations 
A new kind of ten commandments to make. 



THERE IS NO EXCUSE 

The Gospel is preached that all may hear, 

To the hearing all are invited ; 
The lamps of heaven on all sides appear. 

To enlighten the souls benighted. 

There is no excuse for those who turn 
From the voice of heaven's salvation ; 

Who think that they can afford to spurn 
The Gospel's free invitation. 

For the doors stand open, free and wide 
To receive all manner of people ; 

And every church has welcome inside, 
If it has or has not a steeple. 

Some modest chapels in lowly wise 
Will invite the steps of the humble ; 

There's nothing there to dazzle the eyes 
Or to cause the spirit to stumble. 

And (piiet people of common mein 
Bid welcome the seeking strantrer ; 

AVhilst almost as plain the inside is seen. 
As Bethlehem's stable and manger. 

While churches there are will suit the style 

Of the city's toniest sinners. 
Where fashion and pride pace down the aisle 

Both the adepts and the beginners. 



SOME EEASO]!^S FOR THANKSGIVING. 97 



And decoration's arts there abonnd, 
To please and amuse the asthetic ; 

And artists who worlv the real of sound, 
Seem to be joyful or pathetic. 

For all the various ranks of life 

From poverty, up to the wealthy ; 
The strong, who boldly march to the strife, 

And the weak, whose footsteps are stealthy:— 
The way is open to hear God's word, 

And the amplest means are provided ; 
That truth by the many never heard, 

And by other many derided. 

They downward fare and they will not hear, 
But soon, when they get to the level. 

Too late for hope, and in vain to fear — 
They will see the use of the devil. 

SOME REASONS FOR THANKSGIVING, 1886. 
The reasons for thanks are many and good, 
'Twere well that these reasons were understood— 

For the good who have died and gone to their rest. 

Sweet hope, through our grief may in thanks be 
expressed. 
Thanks are due for the fate of sinners as well 
Who have died in their mischief and gone to hell. 

Thanks that we still have bread in plenty to eat 
Despite all the rings and corners in wheat. 
And for all the striking at Chicago, 
Our beef and our bacon are safe, we know. 
We are thoughtful too, for our choosing in peace. 
Our butter for butter, and grease for grease. 

All the quiet people for thanks have cause 
That the unquiet ones still yield to the laws. 
The politicians show reasons for thanks. 
Those who got prizes and those who drew blanks ; 
Each party aloft its banner will wave 
And each feel quite able the country to save. 



98 STRAY JLEAVES. 



Thanksgivings arise from the great earthqualte, 
From those who were undisturbed by the shal^e : 
And we tliat we're not blown up by the gas, 
Or the newspaper editor's natural sass. 
So it seems that for all of society's ranks, 
There are plenty of reasons for giving of thanks. 



WHAT THEN? 

\_Five Little Scenes.l 
1. 
The dining table smiles with well set cheer, 
And for the serving- all are waiting, 
In mamma's lap sits baby dear 
Grave mischief in his mind debating, — 
He grasps the cloth with fingers ten ; 
He pulls — Ma screams ! and well ! What then ? 

2. 
The lilac's perfume loads the evening air. 

And on the gate sweet Jen is leaning ; 
And soon shy John is resting there ; 

She pouts her lips, with archest meaning ; 
'•You dare'nt," she says, "As my name's Jen" — 
John grasps her close — and — ray ! What then ? 

3. 
Some young men spending time where time is lost. 

Amid loud talk, and glasses clinking ; 
Through murky air fierce oaths are tossed, 

And rage is nursed in fiery drinking ; 
A fight flames forth in that vile den ; 
Revolvers flash ! and oh ! What then ? 

4, 
Ah ! then 'twas murder, and this poor youth stands 
Of that foul homicide convicted, — 
And sentenced by the judge ; life's sands 

Are almost run, by law^ restricted : 
This only night to dwell with men ; 
One morning more, and — oh ! What then ? 



PAY BELOW. 99 



5. 

When at the last time comes that we must die, 
And all life's pathway lies behind us ; 

For chances lost, we can but sigh ; 

What might have been our hearts remind us 

When earth fades from our mortal ken, 

And breath departs,— Oh! soul. What then ? 



PAY BELOW. 

On the hill-top the sun shines bright, 
All unclouded the smiling skies ; 

Whilst below, like the gloom of night 
See the smoke on the city lies. 

From our stand on the upland's brow, 
The course of the river is hid ; 

The scene a reminder is now 

Of Tophet, with the shut-down lid. 

At the incline station, the bell 
Is struck as the signal to go ; 

And there you may hear the boy tell 
The passenger to ''pay below." 

Then quickly a rumbling is heard, 
Machinery, and wheels, and car ; 

The drums that the cables engird 
Hum, and hum, without jolt or jar. 

The car soon is let down the hill — 
Oh ! hark you to the shrieks of woe ! 

The passengers settle the bill, 

And howling, now, they — "pay below. 

Sure I dream I such folly to speak. 
That's not really Tophet down there ; 

And that awful, heart-rending shriek 
Is a Panhandle engine's blare. 



100 STRAY LEAVES. 



T'other is a "P-mieky " scream. 

Answered by a Lake Erie yell ; 
Wliilst a tug in tlie murk liid stream, 

Joins its liowl to the chorus fell. 

On this subject, one well might dream. 

Of the sinners who proudly go 
To their evil doings, nor deem 

They must setlte and "pay below." 

The sons of thievery, who thrive 
By reaping what honest folks sow, 

Despite all their tricks will arrive 
Where they square up, and ' ' pay below. 

With those, too 'twill not be so well 
Who monkeying are the poet's foe, 

The classics speak of apes in h — ades ; 
Sad to think, they must "pay below." 



1 



BABY'S SHOES. 

A baby's rosy feet more beauteous are, 
Than any work of man's designing, 

Their native loveliness more rare 
Than ornaments the most surprising. 

And yet our babies shoes we must admire 
Their prettiness our hearts delighting ; 

And special pretty was the pair 
Whose story we are now inditing. 

Dear baby was her mother's chief est joy ; 

Her only seeming cause for joying ; 
Her hopes a drunkards acts destroy : — 

And now her baby sweet is dying. 

And oh : dear pity ! She is dead : 
And in her sweetness calmly sleeping. 

It cannot be that life is sped. 
With that wise smile her features keeping. 



baby's shoes. 101 



Yet so it is. Tlie motlier's pet is gone, 

Life's evil chances all forsaking. 
Poor mother left with God alone. 

Who saves her anguished heart from breakhig. 

Then kindly hands lay baby out. 

Her lovely presence, flower-adorning : 
The smile that keeps her lips about, 

Is but a ray from heaven's morning. 

But who has seen our baby s pretty shoes ? 

They're found not for the strictest searching ; 
The heaven-bound host she may not lose. 

Though barefoot in the column marching. 

Now let us leave this quiet, sacred place 
Where this inhabiter of heaven is resting. 

While in the lighted streets we face 
The thronging crowd that on is breasting. 

Who goes with step uncertain, as with fear ? 

And stops where three gilt balls are swinging 
Who with a guilty look does peer. 

And starts as if remorse were stinging. 

It is the father of the baby dead ; 

Oh ! see what in his coat he's sliding 1 
How dare he lift his guilty head ? 

His barefoot-baby's shoes he's hiding. 

Into the broker's shop he stoutly walks. 

And those poor baby shoes down throwing. 
With thick and drunken tongue he talks — 

'^Howmuch'l ye gimme for these I'm showing?" 

The man of loans a human heart displayed : 

"Where have you these wee shoes been getting?" 
' I got 'em right, don't l)e afraid ; 
" I got 'em home, so don't be fretting!" 

"Then take them home again right quick," he said 
Your baby's shoes will bring you nothing." 

'"S all right, I say ! The baby's dead ! 
So hurry up and gimme so'thing." 



102 STKAY LEAVES. 



■'Now don't stand staring like a tool! be quick ; 

" I swear ! Oh ! heaven I must be drinking ; 
' The devils throng my heart so thick, 

"That I must drink to kill the thinking." 



A COUPLE O' BEERS. 

ICounsel and Witness.'\ 

"Where did you go on that evening sir?" 
"1 goes on der Mister Schmidt's saloon." 

"And what did you do when you got there?" 
"Oh ! I do nodings on dot saloon." 

"Not take a drink ? That seems rather queer ! 

"Yaw, sure ! I dakes me a cooble o' beer." 

"Well ! Where did you go to next, that night?' 
"I go next time on der StahPs saloon." 

"And what did you there ? Did you get tight ?' 
Nein : I do nodings on dot saloon." 

"You can't say, you didn't drink, I fear." 

"Be sure! I dakes a cooble o' beer." 

"Go on, and tell us where you went then." 
" Den I come on Mister Stein's saloon." 

Well, what did you do in that sweet den ?" 
"I do no nodings on dot saloon." 

O, you did'nt take a drink in here ?" 

Vy sure ! I dakes a cooble o' beer. 

Well now, just say where next did you come ?" 
"Next I come on dose Irish saloon." 

"And then I guess you made matters hum." 
"1 makes nodings home on dot saloon." 

"You didn't dring you scarcely could steer' 

"By sure, I dakes a coobles o' beer." 

Yes two biers there were, there is no doubt ; 

The one carried forth of that saloon ; 
And one from the gallows tree went out ; 

The way for both, with horrors were strewn ; 
For thee no gleaming ray of comfort cheers, 
When murder takes his couple of biers. 



1 



PROMOTED. 103 



PROMOTED. 

"When papa's away, then I set in his chair. 

x\nd so eat my dinner in dear papa's place : 
Bnt then I so rather he's own self was there ; 

So's that I could look in dear papa's face." 

"You see he'a p'moted, for so mama says, 
He makes bigger money for his little boy ; 

But I sooner have papa here all the days, 
Than have him p'moted up ever so high." 

And so it thus happened in due business course, 
The father's promotion meant absence from 
home : 
And papa from baby, divided perforce, 
As duty to business compelled him to roam. 

Then sickness took baby— fell sickhess to death : 
"Tell papa I'se sorry, for what will he do?'' 

(So said papa's baby, with his latest breath.) 
"1 can't wait no longer ; I'se p'moted too." 



ROCK-A-BYE. 

To he mug on a chair with a crick in the rocker.] 

Sleep my baby, 

Go to sleep baby. 
Rest my baby, 

Go to sleep now. 

Ma's sweet baby, 

Papa's own baby, 
Sing sweet beby, 

Mama sings now. 

Our bright baby, 

Our pretty baby, 
Rock our baby, 

Mama rocks now. 



104 STKAY LEAVES. 



Sleep sweet babv, 
Lullaby baby, 

Rest my baby, 
Mama sings now. 



GETTING READY FOR THE PIC-NIC. 

"These children surely do nothing but cram. 

By these loaves of bread and slices of ham, 
These crackers and cheese, cakes, pickles and jam; 

Four dollars won't pay the first cost to me. 
Of our Sunday school pic-nic, that goes so gay 

On the cars by the river that roll away" — 
This sum the mother has reckoned to-day, 

And she is a woman of accuracy. 

"Oh, mother, why can't you come along, too? 

There is plenty of room for father and you ; 
And how glad we should be, if you only knew, 

Refusing to come were nearly a crime." 
Thus say the children, nor love do they feign ; 

We are glad in their joy, but pleading is vain, 
Our duties forbid, we see very plain : — 

In Heaven 'tis a pic-nic all the sweet time. 



LET THEM GO. 

'Tis said that "bangs" are going out; 

Well : why not let them go ? 
This e(iuine manner of wearing the hair, 

Is becoming enough to the head of a mare ; 
And sets off well a gorillas snout : 

But in our heart of hearts we know. 
That a gentle woman's comely brow. 

That evening's sky is far more fair, 
When Hesperus like a jewel rare. 

Does with grace of light th' expanse endow 
And the golden clouds part either side ; 

Nor the placid rounded smoothness hide. 



Hfi KNOWED IT ALL. 105 



A grace of kissing on tliat forehead dwells, 

From which the full tresses part ; 
A world of sensitive joy there appears, 

Borne on the heart of the world's past years ; 
Since Eve's fair locks veiled her charms in their 
maze, 

And bared her brow to Adam's fond gaze ; 
Since Rachel 'tired her braids by the wells : 

And the Grecian maidens' modest art : 
And along the beautiful ages, the fair 

Pushed back from their eyes the bountiful hair. 
But one miglit tarry awhile I trow, 

E're kissing these bangs, like a terrier's brow. 



HE KNOWED IT ALL. 

Aloft and fair, ascending the air, 

Up pierced the towering spire ; 
While arch and groin, and pillar combine, 

To set the pinnacle higher. 
And all its graceful wings of flight 
Seek upward to the realms of light. 
Adown, built low, in row under row 

The deep foundations descend ; 
And every art on the builder's part 

Strength and security lend. 
With all the massy piers so laid 
The sailing tower is firmly stayed. 
Anon comes by with notion to try 

All things he sees by his wit ; 
A country wight, who knows he is right, 

No matter where he may hit. 
Let what may stand, or what may fall, 
He's certain sure he knows it all. 
His hat jammed down, nigh covers his face, 

He sees as high as his nose ; 
And so he scans the tower's massy base 

And faults it all as he goes ; 
And says, " here's monstrous waste of stone, 
Enough to make a sane man groan." 



106 STRAY LEAVES. 



" Now, just look here ! Wliat sense is in tliis ? 

Here's none but one foolisli door ; 
A hundred tons of granite there is, 

Yes ! maybe a hundred more. 
Town follvs is fools, I've heard folks tell. 
But this, I swan now, bears the bell. 

Just then the press unsettled his base, 

And knocked his ideas awry ; 
His hat falls off ! his stolid, wise face 

Turns up towards the shining sky. 
And all that silent tower's surprise. 
Drags upward his reluctant eyes. 

Wide staring now as if in fright, 

His eyes do nothing but wonder ; 
His gaze takes in the masterful height ; 

He shouts like a fool — " By thunder ! " 
He drops his eyes, now all a- wash, 
And all he knows he says — " Oh ! gosh ! " 



The moral is for great and small- 
"Be sure you do not know it all. 



KISSING AND KISSING. 

Of all that in the past appears, 

There nothing tenderer is, 
Than that sweet peace of childhood's years, 

Dear mother's good night kiss. 

(Ah ! mother mine ! why are you gone ? 

And why am Fso gray '? 
The dream is past, and night broods on 

The gleam from childhood's day.) 

And when we come to girls and boys, 

Years eight, or nine or ten. 
Of kissing parties we the joys 

Insipid tasted then. 



KISSING AND KISSING. lO? 



Then as we lived and stronger grew, 

And livelier pastime sought, 
We Copenhagen's circles drew, 

And for our kisses fought. 

And older yet, say sixteen years ; 

Ah ! I remember well, 
In spirit that fair moon appears, 

And that sweet grassy dell. 

Fair maidens two, one on each side, 

Lapful of violets blue, 
They shared with me the meadow's pride, 

And taught me what to do. 

Thus, when a violet in her hands 

Succumbed to one in mine, 
A kiss the victory demands. 

And she must pay the fine. 

But if contrarywise it be, 

That mine is vanquished, so 
A kiss from me the penalty, 

The word, "pay as you go." 

And it is long, long since those hours, 
And years their course have run ; 

Still, two such maids in those sweet bowers 
Made kissing lots of fun. 

Then as we older grow, and wise, 

Kissing requires more care, 
Else serious questions may arise 

Before we are aware. 

So lovers' kisses I will leave 

To those who care to tell ; 
Nor try in verses' webb to weave 

Those matrimonial. 

But passing note the latest kiss 

As seen one recent night ; 
On Smithfield street occurred the bliss, 

Beneath the electric light. 



108 



STRAY LEAVES. 



THE APPLE TREE. 

A youth upon a bank reclining, 
Looks upward to the apple blows ; 

A golden cloud above them shining, 
Abroad its golden tresses throws. 

And in this tree of sweet complection, 

This oval form of red and white, 
Two blue birds, trilling their affection, 

In song and color, make delight. 

The youth is moved with joy to dancing ; 

The scene has filled his heart with glee ; 
The pink white blooms, the blue birds glancing, 

And flitting in the blushing tree. 

The while the golden tresses gleaming, 

The cloudy tresses of the sky. 
That seem against the trees' cheek streaming. 

As with a human motion nigh. 

-Then sung the joyous youth full gaily : 
" My love is like the blossoms fair, 

The birds' bright plumage shows but palely, 
When with her blue eyes they compare." 

Just then, upon his view delighted, 
A damsel trips forth upon the green ; 

The birds and blossoms now are slighted. 
And clouds bright streamers golden sheen. 

For in the maiden's presence gracious, 
More than the trees fair beauty dwells ; 

Nor in the sky's bright region spacious, 
Is aught her lovely form excels. 



SPIHITUELLE. 

Her dainty step was fleet and light, 
Her form was lithe and slender, 

So spirituelle and lissom slight, 
So delicately tender. 



SUMMER IDYLL. 109 



Her angel eyes, too blue for gray — 
Too gray for blue, I thought them , 

And so, to clear the doubt away, 
My gaze each moment sought them. 

We almost feared her beauty'. .';race 

Was all too frail and airy, 
Too spirituelle her lovely face, 

Her form, too like a fairy. 

Some thirty years have come and gone 
Since spirituelle I found her ; 

Now she's materialized well on 
T' a plump two hundred pounder. 



A SUMMER IDYLL. 

Up to the mountain health resort, 
People go from mart and court. 
Some for their health, and some for the sport 
That is found in such situations. 

Clarinda came, and Charles was there, 
He so brave, and she so fair, 
They appeared a very loving pair 
To the visitors' cogitations. 

They strolled the lonely forest through, 
He in gray and she in blue. 
And acted as other couples do, 

All in love's sweet premeditations. 

Up from the path a snake's head stuck. 
Scared her so, she loudly shruck, 
Whilst like a shadow, away he snuck 

Unheeding her wild abjurgations. 

Then she concluded not to faint : 

Since, she utters no complaint ; 

'Tis noticed that they no longer 'quaint. 

And he makes no more protestations, 



110 STKAY LEAVES. 



THE MATCH. 

The Prince of Darkness on a time, 

Was granted a vacation 
And come to earth in summer's prime, 

For a little recreation. 

He happened in the poet's room. 

And scared the occupier. 
Who felt the evil spirit's gloom, 

And sniffed the scent of fire. 

The P. of D. exclaims : " My boy, 

I'm a devil all contrary, 
To monkey and vex is all my joy. 

And make things awful scary." 

"I want to make a match with some 
Old cranky cross-grained sinner ; 

To time, you bet, I'll make him come, 
As quick as eat my dinner." 

"And what I want of you is this, 

Just show me such bulldozer, 
And then I'll leave you in your bliss, 

You dandy old composer." 

I told him ' ' he could find his man 
At the ' Penny Press ' newspaper ; 

The managing certain can 
Beat Belzebub on this caper." 

So off he went, and clapped his hoofs, 

His tail flew backward level ; 
Straight for the "Press " he skipped the roofs, 

1 sadly sighed — " Poor devil." 



AliT AtGUST MORNING. Ill 

AN AUGUST MORNING. 

The farmer steps from out his door, 

Betimes this quiet August clay, 
He scans the lovely landscape o'er, 

From which the mist melts fast away. 

Revealing where the orchard stands. 

As resting with its heaped up loads 
Of crowning fruit — like comely bands 

Of well-poised maid's down dreamland roads. 

And lower, clears the meadow grounds ; 

And then the tasseled maize-field steams ; 
And traces next his homestead bounds 

Where through the haze the brooklet gleams. 

There's something stirs the noisy geese, 
Who watchful tend their summer's hatch — 

"Yah! Bull, yah! Sice *em, Bull! Heese ! heese ! 
There's ' nigger in the melon patch !" 



AGAINST THE RAINY DAY. 

The "rainy day" may come to us all ; 

'Tis well for all to prepare 
A shelter snug, whatever befall 

Of storm, of want, of care. 

A home, 'tis good for each one to have. 

Free from encumbrance or debt ; 
It pays one well to gather and save 

To own a roof from the wet. 
When age comes on 'tis cheery to dwell 

With wife and children about ; 
To shut the door, and let the winds tell 

How fierce the storm rages without. 

And well it is for each and to build, 
By truth and kindness to all, 

A name and fame that shelter may yield, 
When floods of malice may fall. 



112 STKAY LEAVES. 



In small things, too, we best be discreet. 
And take each chance that is sent, 

To heed the voice that booms through the street, 
Cry — "Hoom be rallazto ment." 



BABY TALK. 

[Gro?i' Pa and Gran' Ma.'] 

"Say, ma'am, what's our Tom's baby's name ? 

His wife's so mighty sniptious. 
They'll have to sarch the rolls of fame, 

To find a name ambitious." 

" Oh ! but they've found a lovely one. 

Or rather, they've two've 'em ; 
'Tis Ratfaele, Adolphus, mun ; 

And really, there's too few've 'em." 

"And sliG won't have no baby talk ; 

No nick names must be used ; 
For straightly must that infant walk. 

By no slang words anmsed. " 

"And Mr. Smuggins, don't forget^ 

Speak to that youngster proper ; 
'F on baby talk your tongue is set. 

Just then put on the stopper." 

"All right, Mrs. Smuggs. it shall be so. 

In adult form I'll speak ; 
Nor out of grammar will I go 

To childish phrases weak." 

"Lawk now ! See ! Why, here comes that baby. 

And Tom, and Belinda here, too. 
We just were a-thinking how maybe 

We'd soon have a visit from you." 

"And now, we M'ere talking about you, 
And just then you popped up in sight ; 

Kight happy we both are to see you ; 

Of course, you will stay here all night ? " 



SEEING, THEY SEE NOl:. 113 



"Hey ! Missus ! See itty tweetnum ! 

A dear itty tootwoot it is ; 
It oiliest clan' papa's sweetiim, 

A.n' clan' papa muss 'ave a tiss." 

" An' it dotten seek a pooty name ; 

'Es, too, an' it clot anuzzer : 
Itty, tooty, Alfey Dolfey ! ain' 

'Em ze daisy name, dam-muzzer?" 

BELINDA : 

I will not endure this baby talk ! 

Please, Thomas, take up that child, 
And out of this we (piickly walk. 

Before I'm driven entirely wild. 



WHY WE SING. 

In times gone by came Jennie Lind, 
Her voice the bird-scmg singing, 

The lone bird tells adown the wind 
"I know not why I'm singing." 

And this is true of many now 
Among our songsters human; 

We must, despite what will, I trow 
Be singing men, and women. 

While others sing because they like 
To join the pleasant meeting 

Of frieads, whose rythmic voices strike 
The tuneful songs of greeting. 

There see the bright soprano come 

To set her notes a trilling ; 
Before such wonders all are dumb. 

Such execution thrilling. 



114 "STRAY LEAVES. 



And Boanerges Basso, see 

He rolls his tones of thunder, 
Profundo down he goes to D, 

And dear knows how far under. 

And softly glides Miss Alto in, 

A comfortable fairy. 
With mellow voice all hearts to win 

And emulate Miss Gary. 

Here Tenor then assumes his place, 

The high B flat he sings to, 
And shows in his self-conscious face 

He two B flats might ring too. 

And these all sing because their love 

Of music sweet is hearty 
This motive rules their minds above 

All selfishness or party. 

Hans Schneider different speaks from these. 

His musical devotings — 
" You dinks a Dutchman was a geese, 

He blays dot horn for nodings ?" 



FELICITY. 

The black thorn hedges laugh with bloom, 
And golden smiles the rows of broom, 
And daisied meadows lie between. 
Sweet English meadows richly green, 
Aglow with buttercup's bright sheen. 

The pollard oaks stand here and there, 

And scented hawthorns snowy fair. 
The mansion hid in nested trees, 
Where clamoring rooks their young appease. 
And blue smoke streaming down the. breeze. 



FELICITY. 



115 



The field path winds its way along, 
Its wayward way these sweets among; 
For sweet it is that way to go 
Through lovely meadows all ablow 
Beneath the Sabbath morning's glow, 

So think the happy lad and lass, 

Who linger, loitering as they pass 

Toward the Church and morning prayer; 
The gabled Church with windows rare, 
And ivied porch, and belfry fair. 

And soon the prayers and thanks are said. 
The litany and lessons read; 

And on the quiet air arise 

The psalms and oft doxologies; 

And then the sermon short and wise. 

And when the reverent work is done. 

The people throng out to the sun; 

The vicars frieud takes him to task. 

And says — "pray pardon if 1 ask, 

Wh;^ you your thoughts in hard terms mask. 

"Your hearers I am quite afraid 
The meaning miss of much that's said:" — 
"You greatly are mistaken sir; 
In this my people cannot err 
For I have taught them many a year." 

"And to convince you, I will try 
With Hodge the hedgor passing by — 

Friend Hodge ! come here, I wish to see 
How quickly you can answer me; 
What means the word — felicity ?" 



"Naw yaw be troying me to rig; 
That be a word a-moast too big — 
Aw think 'tis soo ni'at i'soide a pig. 



116 STRAY LEAVES. 



ABRAM AND ABRAMS. 

ABRAM. 

Father of many nations, thou 
Who leftcl'st Chaldea at the call; 

And did'st with grave submisson bow 
To that behest that ruleth all; 

And journey of that faith began, 

That ends, but with the race of man. 

I musing, see thee on the way, 

With flocks and herds, and camels there. 
In princely pageant that display 

Grave orient ease, as on they fare; 
And armed men ride with shield and spear, 
And women veiled 'mid tents appear. 

And now alone thou walkest on 

Communing dee]), with far off gaze; 
Thy lofty brow without a frown, 

- While sober peace dwells on thy face — 
So thou art passed: — yet still we see 
Thy sons among us, favoring thee. 



Do I still dream ? See ! who comes here ? 

That moves the jostling crowds among, 
Who keeps his steady mien as near, 

He draws apace, nor heeds the throng: 
He treads the pave, as though he were 
A stranger-pilgrim wandering there. 

His high curved nose, and keen black eye, 
His olive hue, and flowing beard. 

And all his physiogncnny 

Show he from Judah's stock was reared; 

And in his grave and mournful face 

You read the history of his race. 



THE INDIAN LEGEND. 117 



Now as he passes, mark him well; 

His pensive looks, and motion slow, 
His thoughtful, musing features tell 

Of all his people's long drawn woe. 
He speaks : let not a word escape ! 
"Raex ; Raex : Holedyern :-Paep." 



THE INDIAN LEGEND. 

As one pursues his journey through our land, 
The redmens' legends meet him here and there; 

And Indian names abound on every hand, 
Of warrior fierce, or maiden fair. 

Once on a time, one learned in such like lore 
A traveling from his eastern home set out, 

To add some stories to his gathered store, 
That on his way might float about. 

Past Youghiogheny, and past Conemaugh; 

Muskingum, Pontiac and Sciotah; 
Past Minnehaha, and a many more, 

He reached the Mississippi's shore. 

And as he waited by the rushing stream 
The ferry coming from the further side; 

The thronging floods of sunbeams glint and gleam, 
Thrown ott" the restless rolling tide. 

And now he sees upon the nearing boat, 

A name emblazoned large, in letters fair — 
Hitormis is the name that he may note; 
■ He notes it well, that name so rare. 

"To this, 'he says," a legend must belong; 

A name it is fit for a warrior bold, 
Hitormis was a chieftan, brave and strong. 

His deeds in story, sure are told." 



. 



118 STRAY LEAVES. 



"Perhaps he ruled o'er this broad rolling wave, 
And all the wide adjoining fertile plains; 

His wisdom to the tribes instruction gave 
O'er foes his valor, victory gains." 

The boat, by this had reached the landing place, 
And soon its freight of people sought the shore: 

Our legend hunter, with inquiring face 
Down towards the tough old skipper bore. 

And asked him if he knew the history 
Of this Hitormis, was he Indian chief 

Or warrior brave, "whose name we here may see. 
Engraved up there, in bold relief ?" 

With that he pointed to the lettered sign — 

This made that skipper tough with scorn to hiss- 

"Why, blame it Mister ! can't you read the line ? 
This yer craft's called the Hit or Miss." 



COMPASSION. 

The praises of compassion kind 
Have frequently been spoken: 

And so it comes into my mind 
To add this humble token. 

Though not so much in praise to write, 

Is now my poor intention; 
As three short instances to cite. 

That may be worth the mention. 
1. 
See ! walking on unsteady legs, 

That man who lugs a basket; 
'Tis heaped with many dozen eggs, 

Whose weight will overtask it. 

For look ! right on the pavement there, 
Of that grand dry goods palace; 

Before the dainty door way fair, 
As though t'were done In malice — 



COMPASSION. 119 



The basket breaks ! and in a heap 
That quickly spreads in wideness, 

The eggs lie mashed ! who would not weep, 
What eye can keep its driedness ? 

And now is true compassion seen, 
In that impoverished mourner — 

"How can they get that pavement clean ?" 
He cries, and skips the corner. 

2. 

Turn now to where in judgment sits, 
The court that passes sentence: 

The prisoner stands, as him befits 
In posture of repentance. 

The judge compassionately says — 

"You see what drink has brought you: 

Drunk was I never all my days; 
'Tis pity how it caught you." 

To see the prisoner's face, was grand. 

Filled with compassion sunny 
"You shock me jedge ! here as I stand: 

You've missed a heap that's funny." 

3. 

Now see that foreign lady stand 

Upon the field of battle: 
Just rescued from an arab band; 

With camels, sheep and cattle. 

All by a loyal highland troop 

Arayed in kilt and plaidie; 
Who made the fierce marauders stoop, 

The soldiers of the Mahdi. 

The lady asks about his hurts; 

With joy she learns there is none: 
Inquiringly she scans his skirts; 

(She never saw but this one. ) 



120 STRAY LEAVES. 



And now her face has lost its smile, 
Compassion does arouse her; 

She says, though blushing all the while- 
"I grief he lose he's trowser." 



BECAUSE HE IS ALLOWED TO. 

Broad lies the moonlight o'er the scene, 

And deep lie all the shadows; 
The silver poplars shed the sheen, 

And also shade the windows. 

And just within the deepest shade. 
That here the pavement covers; 

A bashful swain and gracious maid, 
Appear as ardent lovers. 

Of his desire for one sweet kiss. 
He now proceeds to warn her — 

When lo ! there comes amid'st the bliss 
Three chums around the corner. 

"Ah there !" one cries with sudden shout; 

He flees the kiss in terror; 
The other knows what he's about, 

And quickly rights the error. 

The second chap comes right along, 
And lightly he too, kissed her; 

The third keeps up the merry song. 
And tries, and never missed her, 

She thought it then full time to speak; 

At these three pert surprises; 
So on the night, shriek after shriek 

The thrilling cadence rises. 

Her sweetheart, when he heard the scream 
To help, come rushing toward; 

For he, howe'er his case may seem, 
Was shy, but not a coward. 



MUSING BEAUTV. 121 



Into his arms the maiden ran. 
Ah ! then he found some busses — 

A grim policeman grabbed his man, 
While she stands off, and blushes. 

"They kissed me sir ! three wicked men: 
They are a nasty crowd too; 

liut he no harm was doing then. 
Because he is allowed to." 



MUSING BEAUTY. 

How beautiful she is, 
In form, and features too ; 

Her lips so fit to kiss ; 
Her eyes of love's own blue. 

I gazed on her nnseen, 

And gazing is delight ; 
How graceful in her mien, 

Her smiles, how sweet and bright. 

It must be she is wise ; 

Sure thoughts of beauty sleep 
Within those azure eyes. 

Like June skie's pure and deep. 

She deeply muses now, 

Some thought to being springs ; 
Her fair hand shades her brow. 

Her wee foot fretting swings. — 

She speaks ! "A fool I was 
To eat them ingins, gosh ; 

You bet I'm mad, becoz 
I s'tup to-night with .Josh." 



122 STRAY LEAVES. 



HER WISE CHOICE. 

A brunette she was, and lovely as June, 
Like sweet damask roses her lips were red, 

To love her low ascents were all a tune 
His rythm moved true in her langorous tread. 

And suitors had she both wealthy and poor, 
Just one of the last, who loved her full, 

But she would have none but a moneyed wooer. 
Nor list to the tale the poor lad would tell. 

A young cashier of a popular bank ; 

A millioniare's son ; a railroader high ; 
A man of society's topmast rank. — 

Even a plumber could not catch her eye. 

Her glorious eyes ; so dark yet so keen. 

Have caught the gleam of a prize that is richer, 

A prize that to covet needs but be seen — 
And so she's to marry a base ball pitcher. 



NIGHT ON FIFTH AVENUE. 

Down the crowded street we meet the varied throng. 
Many faces laugh when the hearts would rather 
v/eep ; 

While the fine Italian accent keeps up the song — 
"Pea nos fii cen a. package ; pick 'em up cheap." 

Eeturning, we cross and take the other side ; 
The thronging faces differ, but th' expression is 
the same : 
And varied is the cadence by the newsboys cried — 
"Tare's yer extra 'Press;' all about the base 
ball game." 



VERSES BY ANON. 133 



VERSES BY ANON. 

THE GIRLS WILL, SLIDE. 

The snow has come, and also the ice, 

And slippery ways are the go; 
The school girls think the sliding is nice,— 

Girls do so like to slide, as you know. 

Just see them nip o'er the slippery place. 

It seems every foot to allure, 
While mischief gleams in each ruddy face — 

How girls do like to slide, to be sure. 

To pass by a chance is impossible. 

Or to such temptation say no; 
With a scream how they rush; each romping belle 

Girls do so like to slide, as you know. 

There's scanty show for any poor boy, 
A fairly good slide to secure; 

The flock descends like ducks to a decoy- 
How girls do like to slide, to be sure. 



JOHN AND JACK. 

Two young men came a courting our Isabel, 
They were two young men, of the finest repute, 

And good-looking fine fellows they were as well. 
Kind tempered, well-mannered beyond a dispute. 

For Jack ! the time present, was all his delight. 
And thoughts of to-morrow scarce entered his mind. 

To please and get pleasure, he strives with his might; 
To Isabel was he especially kind. 

Now John — although pleasant as pleasant could be, 
Was thoughtful beside, and to business was true; 

Well up in the arts, and his reading was he; 
And ardently sweet, on sweet Isabel too. 



124 STRAY LEAVES. 



To choose 'twixt these two all the gossips engage, 
And really 'tis question, might daunt not a few; 

Says Kitty, twelve long summers old and quite sage — 
"I think that John's the best to get married to." 



TIME. 



In a formal manner be came to woo, 
And business he meant from the start; 

A bachelor free, and right well to do, 

Of methodical turn, he at forty two 
Laid siege to Eliza Jane's heart. 

And he said — I'd like to go the full swing 

And do up this courting all right; 
Experience in sparkin' I've none to bring, 
So'f I'd ought to kiss — or anything, 

You please'to call time, "right on sight." 

Eliza Jane took to blushing at this, — 

But she soon rung in with the chime: 
And he was not backward to taste the bliss. 
Nor though she spoke low, the chance did he miss 
When murmuring soft, she said — "time.'' 



ill 



PERCIVAL. 

Who carried to town the big base fiddle, 

Nor cared, though 'twas of daylight the middle ? 

'Tis easy enough to solve riddle— 

Percival. 

And who went over to telegraph. 
And waited through night the better half ? 
Do I know ? Well I should rather laugh — 
Percival. 

When one was wanted to wake all night, 
When all the rest were in such poor plight; 
Who went, and braved both fatigue and fright ? — 
Percival. 



AVHY SHE PEEFFERRED THE OTHER SCHOOL. 125 



And who is the one, when tongues grow rude 
Of boys and chaps, of hoyden and prude, 
That's slandered with the cognomen of dude ? — 
Percival. 



WHY SHE PREFFERPvED THE OTHER 
SCHOOL. 

To Papa she says — "The principal 

Is such a learned man; 
The teacher is so very plain, 

One must learn, if one can." 

To the girls she says — "In our old school 

No nice boys now you meet. 
But there ! they're all young gentlemen, 

And just too awful sweet " 

To herself she says — "Them snide old girls 

1 do so like to hum; 
I go because that candy shop 

Sells, heavenly chewing gum." 



HYGEINE, 

With a rush they come toward the door ajar, 
They twitter and laugh as they crowd the car; 
These high school Misses, these mornings are seen, 
And all their loud talk is about high Jean: 
From all one can hear, she must have a beau, 
So some seem to say, and others don't kno\v. 
It appears from all one can learn of him 
That High Jean's sweetheart is known as low Jim, 
Oh ! the high school girls, are gay young chaps 
When to their tongues they spring open the traps. 



126 STKAY LEAVES. 



APRIL FOOL. 

On the evening of the day, 

There came to my business place, 

A messenger boy in gray, 
With a weary anxious face, 

"Mister, I got this from your son 

This morning, I took it o'er 
Where' Is d'rected, and begun 

T'ring the bell, and pound the door." 

"But the lady would' nt hear 
Noise enough to raise all sheol, 

Through the blinds, I b'lieve I see 'er; 
Guess she thought 'twas Aprile fool." 

"Any way nobody'd come — 
' So I thought I'd come to you. 
Maybe you might take it home — 
Blamed if I know what to do." 



'GENTLEMEN ARE REQUESTED NOT TO 
SMOKE IN THIS CAR." 

The notice was plain to see, 

As the hoodlums hustled in. 
With cigars alight and manners free, 

And plenty of cheek and chin. 

Unmoved they read the sign. 

Nor made they any fuss. 
For say they — "we know the line 

Does not apply to us." 



PHYSICIAN HEAL THYSELF. 127 

PHYSICIAN HEAL THYSELF. 

That our good doctor obeys this iiij action 

Is a trutli tliat we all may yield, 
And say without any compunction, 

He's a physician, that's very well heeled. 

For if the water works do not just suit him. 
This Sultan of all the gas fitters ; 

He can say, and who will dispute him, 
"There's a healing in my stomach bitters. 



AH ! THERE. 
I met two gaily stepphig girls 

All on a Sabbath day ; 
Rare rosebuds of the hue of pearls, 

Broad on their bosoms lay. 

A passing friend they chance to meet — 
"Where did you get them, tell ! 

Those lovely flowers that smell so sweet ?' 
"Oh ! at the funeral." 



THE SEALED VEDICT. 

JURYMAN AND WIFE. 
HE. 

"The verdict we agreed upon 

Was folded up and sealed. 
And can't, because the judge is gone, 

'Till morning be revealed." 

SHE. 

"Now, dear, just tell me how it went. 

Not guilty, or guilty, which ? 
I'm sure there's nothing to prevent. 

To hear it my two ears itch," 

HE. 

"But wife the .ludge has given commands 

That whose'er is caught 
At making any such demands, 

Before him must be brought." 



128 .STRAY LEAVES. 



"And lie will punish any such 

With fullest force of law, 
And it wall please him very much 
This crime to overawe.'" 

''If any wife the verdict scan, 
By gentle wiles or force, 
The Judge will grant the happy man 
A full and free divorce." 

'•And so my dear, if now you must 
This fatal secret borrow. 
You will not be surprised, I trust. 
If your-e divorced to-morrow. 



THE JURYMAN. 

To hear the speeches in the court. 

And charges of the Judge 
Are to the juryman but sport. 

And work he does not grudge. 

But in the cheerless jury room, 

His labor tough appears, 
'Tis there the tones of wisdom boom, 

And eloquence brings tears. 

The Judge may scold us at the bar 

Before the public eye ; 
But t'wonld his self complaiscence mar 

To hear our comments dry. 

The way we get into his wool 
Should make him glad to know 
His crop of hair is far from full 
Where the crop of hair should grow. 



BBOIiEN PITCHERS. 



129 



BROKEN PITCHERS. 

To the Alleyheny Clnh—Senmn of 188'). 

We started out in first-class form, 

All on the penant coinitin'; 
Nor cared we for the slugger's storm 

Dependin' on our Mountain. 

Alas ! our hopes were soon knocked out 

On our boss pitcher chancin'; 
But soon our gloom was put to rout 

Before our Morris dancin'. 

We likewise got a peep O'Day, 

Who soon we sent a-jiggin' ; 
And then we gave ourselves away 

When we caught on to Meegau. 

And still things didn't go ahead, 

So in our deep devisin', 
We thought before all hope had fled 

We'd try on Galvinizin'. 

But this scheme, too, availed us not. 
Folks yelled out: " Water Pitcher!" 

And even whisky straight and hot. 
Still failed to make us richer. 

But, now, we guess, we'll make things hum; 

We think we're right, by jingo ! 
For here's this new man Holford to come, 
He that's to come with Ringo. 



TO THE ALLEGHENY BASE BALL CLUB. 

1887. 

In classical times there was no base ball, 
Or certainly we should have known it; 

In'eloquent phrase th' Apostle Paul 
In the scriptures would have shown it. 



130 STKAY LEAVES. 



For he loved to use the arduous strife 

Of the games of the Greek and the Roman, 

To show how to wage the war of life 
'Gainst spirits, or mortal foeman. 

So, boj's, now pick up, and put in your best ; 

Give success to your friends' ambition. 
Nor with the friendship of thousands jest, 

But try for the first position. 

McCormick, and Galvin, and Morris, 

Brown and Miller, and Fields and Carrol, 

Respect the words of Manager Horace, 
And leave the booze inside the barrel. 

McKinnon, Barclay, Whitney and Kuehne, 
Coleman, Beecher, Smith and Dalrymple, 

Hold fast all flies ere they touch the green 
And take all your lemonades simple. 

Pitch in, catch on, and hit the ball hard. 
Leave lame legs when you run the bases; 

Be gritty however luck turns the card 
You can't expect they'll all be aces. 



THE CHARGE OF THE ONE HUNDRED. 

To tne Municipal Reform Committee of One Hundred. 
After Tennyson. 

Half a year, half a year, 
Still moving onward 
Full at the host of fraud 

Went the One Hundred. 
Forward this choice brigade ! 
"Charge on the ring 1" they said ; 
Then for the hosts of fraud 

Went the One Hundred. 



THE CHARGE OF THE ONE HUNDRED. 131 



Andy to right of them ; 
Cristy to left of them ; 
Satan in front of tliem 

Watclied while they blundered. 
These three made no reply, 
They knew the reason why 
There was no need to fly ; 
Bosses of the hosts of fraud 

Feared not the Hundred. 



Forward ! with stern resolve. 
Nothing but resolve, 

While the town wondered, 
Forward ! to do or die 
And the town wondered why 
All the do was in their eye. 
And why they didn't die. 

Die the One Hundred. 



Andy to left of them ; 
Cristy to right of them ; 
The devil behind them ; 

Behind the One Hundred. 
Then Cristy blandly smiled, 
Andy frequently smiled, 
'Most everybody smiled 

At the One Hundred. 



When will they try again ? 
Pitch in like little men 

These men that blundered. 
'T won't do to give up, so 
Once more at 'em go ! 

Pitch in. Old Hundred! 



133 STRAY LEAVES. 



THE TWO-FATHOM CANOE. 

It was no toilsome task to liiin 

On his strong back the boat to take, 

And set it gracefully a-swim 
Upon the placid rippling lake. 

The bark canoe two fathom long 

Allures liim like a siren song. 

And less a task it was to bear 
The lithesome maiden, willing sweet; 

And then to rest his burden fair 

In that trim skiif was bliss complete. 

His love he knows is fathomless, 

And love the maid's glad eyes confess. 

Then gently speeds the light canoe, 
And curtseys to the swelling wave ; 

No shadow shrouds the heaven's clear blue, 
No cry of warning need they brave. 

The buoyant bark's two fathom length 

Moves on the flood with grace and strength. 

Far from the land they swiftly pass, 
And there the time in dalliance spend; 

Around, the rimless-looking glass 
Reflects the skies that o'er it bend. 

And underneath, two fathom down 

The soft sands spread for them that drown. 

Up to her feet the coy maid springs, 
Affecting fears she does not feel ; 

Unbalancing tlieir wave bird's wings 
She stabs the frail bark with her heel: 

The wound though not two fathom wide 

Bleeds death in with the rushing tii[e. 

He fiercely fought against their fate. 
And bravely bore her while he could : 

But mortal vigor, soon or late. 
Must fail, and pity 'tis it should. 

For on the sands two fathom deep 

The lovers by their shallop sleep. 



BLUE ANt) GOLD. 133 

BLUE AND GOLD. 

Ballad. 
Once upon a day of Autumn's mellow prime, 
When in wavering lines the whanging white swans 
hew, 
When wavelets kiss the sands to love's beating time. 
The light as of love shines through heaven's deepest 

blue; 
The beach by the bay a semi-circle drew, 
And the rising banks the silver birches hold. 

Showering from their crests they glowing treasures 
strew, 
All the way is wealthy with its store of gold. 

There upon the strand the graceful pantomime 

Of the pair of lovers gives a certain clue 
To their wind-blown murmurs, fit for poets' rhyme ; 

The light as of love shines through heaven's deepest 
blue; 

Tenderly she smiles and he looks brave and true ; 
Her winsome foot keeps step to his striding bold, 

And all the way he hastens her heart to pursue ; 
All the way is wealthy with its store of gold. 

Nearer as they draw their voices join to chime 

Love's perfect tune, as 'twere all tlie tune they 
knew, 
And think the sun may liear and forget to climb ; 

The light as of love shines through heaven's deepest 
blue; 

Courtly is the youth as though in wealth he grew, 
Tho' he be but poor on whom the world looks cold ; 

Fair is the maiden of blush camellia hue ; 
All the way is wealthy with its store of gold. 

"Ah ! love, for the light of your sweet eyes I sue," 
The light as of love shines through heaven's deepest 
blue, 
"No poor man may win me ! beauty's to be sold." 
All the way is wealthy with its store of gold. 



134 STRAY LEAVES. 



LYING AROUND. 

A friend who is quite elastic in speech, 

Who, when the facts do not readily come 
Is apt to, if the supply wont ]-each, 

In telling; a story to stretch it some, 
Remarked that ' ' The weather's so fine that I 

Feel's though I could lie 'round most anywhere,' 
But Where's the use that round he should lie 

Who always does it so well on the square. 



HIGH TONK 

Some people are toney because of their wealth, 
And think that it comes in to them with their money. 

If honestly coiiie by, or gotten by stealth, — 

Ev'n though their high manners may strike one as 
funny. 

Some think they are toney by right of their birth. 
No matter though poor as was Job's famous turkey, 

They turn up their noses at all on the earth. 
The rich without lineage, and every poor workey. 

And others because of their culture are toney, 
Despising both wealth and the claims of descent ; 

Count none as their equal but some college crony 
Pride's classical toga they miss-call content. 

In striving for tone I am not a believer. 
Contented I follow my own lowly level ; 

Except that I flourish this toney hay fever. 
And that I would gladly shove off on the devil. 



THANKS FOE THE DEPARTED. 135 



THANKS FOR THE DEPARTED. 

We would thank Thee, Lord, for those before us gone, 
Thy servants all from mortal life departed ; 

From righteous Abel, first to meet the dawn 
Of heaven, on whose apt face full darted 
The rays through glory's door, when he meek-heai ted 

Led the van of God's great army. 

Whose ranks still follow on. 

Numberless, they follow on ; by day and night ; 
Still through the gates of God's fair city going, 

They tread the golden way in lines of white, 
A mighty liost forever growing. 
And like a swelling river onward flowhig 

Tast the throne where their Commander 
Approves their order l)right. 



DIAPASON. 

Through all the noise of mortal life 
Within time's halls redounding ; 

The wail of woe, the blare of strife, 
God's tonic chord is sounding. 

And up along the heaven's height. 
Beyond the world's complaining, 

In perfect time and rythm right 
The octaves sing His praising. 

Whilst in accord the angels' song 

The dominant is ringing 
And with them earth's ascending throng 

In harmony is sniging. 

The mediant in the mighty chord 
The church below is sighing 

'Mid sin's dissonant chorus, roared 
By voices mad or dying. 



'Tis hard amongst the din to keep 
In tune with heaven's hymning, 

When failing faith would stint to weep, 
And grief the eye is dimming, 

So through the year, though singing still 

The weary voice is pantinii: ; 
A minor third with mournful thrill 

The pilgrim church is chanting. 

But now the Christmas tide draws nigh 
Our hearts to gladness raising, 

Strike ! Church of God I in triumph high 
The major chord of praising. 



CAIN. 



Of all the names of horror and crime 
That will not down but ever remain 

As ghastly ghosts to affright all time. 
The di smallest one is the name of Cain. 

This sombre specter stalks down the track 
Of history's gloomy and lurid way ; 

With bloody red hands and scowlings black 
'Mongst us he jostling fronts the full day. 

Cain's spirit fell arms each ready fool 
With murder called by some other name. 

As pistol, or knife, or such like tool ; 
And cowards strut unsmitten by shame. 

The foul mouth ruffian with cursincrs full; 

The vile breed blackguard with ribald taunt 
With dastard tremor the trigger pull. 

And the murder mean for valor vaunt. 

In Cain's old time, and before the flood 
The whole world was with violence filled ; 

God's rain poured down till it cleansed the blood 
And all the noise and tumult was stilled. 



death's door. 137 



May He rain on us His influence pure, 
And grant us His magnificent peace ; 

May gentleness in our land endure 
And violence forever more cease. 



DEATH'S DOOR. 

While journeying on my destined pilgrim way, 

Alone I passed, as mortals ever go ; 
From birth's dim morn to death's sad evening graj' 

Each holds his own lone path through joy and woe; 
I felt the track that late had kept the height 
. Free to the air and cheerful in the sun. 
Begin to fall away from breeze and light, 

As down my tired steps stumbled one by one. 

On either hand the rocky ribs uprose 

With twisted roots and oozy mould o'er hung ; 
And high aloft where mingling treetops close 

The tuneful bird-songs trilled, to me unsung ; 
For naught is heard but distant drops of soimd 

That down in dark and dismal depths descend, 
Like clods that from the coffins' lid rebound 

'Mid farewell tears shed on a buried friend. 

And soon across the gloomy glen there stood 

A door of ebony of polished grain, 
A mirror like a tarn hid in a wood, 

Of somber depth that imaged nothing plain, 
But raftered boughs and pictured leaves in steep ; 

So that dull mystic door seems to reflect 
Dim torpid shapes that moveless ever creep ; 
With white-rimmed eyes a-stare in terrors' sleep ; 
And wailing lips whose cry can never come, 
The quivering mouths' sad lines are fixed and 

dumb ; 
And bosoms heaved while horror holds the breath ; 
Life lives but in the dire despair of death. 



138 STEAY LEAVES. 



Near by a specter stands witli lipless grin. 

Whose creaking finger joints bring forth a key 
To open that dread door and tlirust me in ; 

When lo ! at this my soul's extremity. 
Relief -appears, the gloom has turned to gray, 

And then to silver like the fair moonbeams, 
The door is open but a little way, 

When up the creviced side a glory gleams 
That turns death's brooding night to living day. 

Then further opens still the massive door. 

The dismal mirror from my sight has fled, 
I raise my sullen eyes and view the floor 

AVhere moving free, white-footed angels tread ; 
With wondering joy I gaze, and shaded sight 

And see the throng of radiant faces there 
Who mark my joyful wonder with delight, 

And make me doubt there ever was despair. 

One soft-winged messenger then took my hand, 

A.nd vigor thrilled throughout my weary frame ; 
He said, " We comrades are of one command," 

And on tlie roster showed my written name; 
He led my firm feet back the dreary way. 

And set me safely on the height once more, 
And bade me keep the path until the day 

When he would fetch me through the blessed door. 



K. M. Q. 

A Charade. 

"Now ere the waltzers begin anew. 
Please let me ask a question Miss Lou, 
Here where the violets blossoms blue. 
Match your sweet eyes so tender and true- 
Please what's the meaning of K. M. Q ?' 



UMSTEIGEK. 139 



" Where these Chrysanth'ums limit tlie view, 
Where unobserved there is hiding for two, 
Come, I'll endeavor to answer you ; 
'Tis a charade not played by a prue. 
Bend down your head — there I that's K. M. Q." 



Swift as a bird toward the dance she flew, 
Laughing with fun she stayed not to rue ; 
Bashfully, joyful lie after drew; 
There as they waltz he softly said — " Whew ! 
That's what you spell oat with K. M. Q." 



UMSTEIGEN ! 

When out of bed in the mornino; you tumble. 
And go down to breakfast in humor to grumble, 
Just when your temper gets out the first rumble— 

Umsteigeu ! 

When your ouliest wife feels slightly rheumatic, 
And talks round in a manner somewhat erratic, 
Then's the time you may utter mildly emphatic— 

Umsteigen ! 

Should a bachelor rich see a maiden inviting. 
And think he may woo her the better in writing, 
There ! when he has finished what he's indicting— 

Umsteigen ! 

If at the grand editor's mock erudition 

Your anger would threaten your good disposition. 

Don't let it, he's sure to land in perdition — 

Umsteigen ! 



140 8TKA\ LEAVES. 



AVHITTIER. 

In days gone by that now seem times of old, 
Made so not by the pace of inert years, 

But hurling rush of swift events that rolled 
Tumultous as a flood, our quickened fears 
O'erpasslng, so the time an age appears; 

'Twas when the mighty argument arose 

Between the few unshamed by scoffs and jeers, 

And slavery's scornful hosts, unequal foes. 

Then clear and single-toned rang Whittier's voice. 
Like silver trumpet in God's temple old. 

That called the ancient people of His choice 
To worship, and the glory to behold 

Of justice and of mercy, in the light 

Of their all-seeing Maker's searching sight. 



THE ECLIPSE. 

The mighty earth rolls silently 

Along its sweeping course, 
Th' attendant moon in company 

Obeys its mastering force. 

To-night fair Luna's face is black. 

Hid in a mourning veil; 
Earth's shadowy robe floats streaming back 

Across her shining trail. 

All nature seems in solemn thought 

And sombre grows the sky. 
As humble souls with wonder fraught 

Gaze reverently on high. 

And thousands pass along the street 

Nor upward turn their eyes. 
The lightest vanity they meet 

]SIore than all heaven they prize. 



FOIl ST. valentine's DAY. 141 



For folly blinds them day and night, 

And dwells upon their lips, 
Whilst heaven and nature to their sight 

Are always in eclipse. 



FOR ST. VALENTINE'S DAY. 

The snow lies on the meadow lands 
Where white will bloom the clover; 

Roam otherwheres the whistling bands 
Of blue bird, thrush and plover. 

Yet for my Love through all my heart 
A sweet spring song is singing ; 

Hard winter's door hope bursts apart, 
And love and joy are winging. 

Love I tune your song and answer mine 
With lays my soul entrancing ; 

In honor sweet, of Valentine 
Set hope and memory dancing. 

Dear heart, we know Saint A^alentine 

Of all the saints is dearest ; 
Of all the days that on us shine. 

Sure love's day shines the clearest. 



THE CHRISTENING. 

The Easter tide comes sweet and fair 

On Old Varginia's vales ; 
Blue mountains line the upper air, 

Spring's flowers perfume the gales. 

The Sabbath's stiUness lies on all 
The heart delighting scene ; 

The graceful church with steeple tall 
Stands fair amid the green. 



142 STliAY LEAVES. 



Within, tlie sunshine and the shade 

Fall on the nave and aisle, 
Bright hues by tinted windows made 

On font and altar smile. 

The rector in his white array 
Conducts the service grave, 

And ranged in front the people pray, 
And heaven's blessing crave. 

Baptismal service is begun. 

Sweet babes in white are brought, 

The Rector takes them one by one, 
And names eacli as he ouglit. 

With baby girl a mother came 

And proudly fondled her ; 
The Rector stooped to ask the name — 

She lisped out " Luthy, thir."' 

The vicar straightened up in scorn — 
" What I Lucifer ! Sure none 

To such a name was ever born ; 
Call him George Washington." 

(Our preacher's will is sovereign law 

To all the parish dames, 
He need not stop the line to draw 

At a simple fact of names. ) 

" George Washington, I baptize thee,' 

And did the sacred rite ; 
The mother took her girl baby 

As one entranced by fright. 

The kindly pastor smiled on her,. 

And wished her every joy. 
She wildly wailed, "My Luthy. thir, 

Ith changed into a boy. 



EASTER MORNlNa, BEFORE THE DAWX. 143 

EASTER MORNING, BEFORE THE DAWN. 

Watchfully the stars move on their silent way, 
Niglit's sad heart soothing with their tranquil 
beaming, 
And toward the sepulcher where Jesus lay 
Their glances wistfully are gleauiing, 
And show where darkling forms of warlike seeming 
(Uiard and ward the tomb of Joseph 

And wish for coming day. 

Stretched across the vales mysterious lines of mist, 
On level pinions sail like halcyons sleeping, 

And filmy wraiths arisen, in stillness hist. 
Close round the watch who guard are keeping, 
While horror undefined is o'er them creeping. 

Terrors on their heart strings fasten 

And fears that still insist. 

Fitfully irridiscent the crowding phantoms glow : 
Nor more can mortal sense perceive the shining 

Ineffable of all the glorious show 

Where fair in ranks of heaven's aligning. 

In perfect power with glistering pomp combining 

Stand the ten Angelic legions 

Before the rock grave low. 

Flashing on the Jewish patrol's quailing sight 

Twin angels beautiful, their white wings waving. 

Before the sealed-up sepulcher aliglit , 
The warriors have no heart for braving, 
For dread supreme their every power enslaving 

Smites, and prone they lie as dead men 

Before the prescence bright. 

None need now to roll away the rocky door. 
Naught stays the Risen One's feet this joyous 
morning ; 
At will He now may pass creation o'er. 
As forth He stands the earth adorning ; 
The stars behold Him ! All His host adoring 
Hail heaven's King ! death's Mighty Master ! 
Blest Lord forevermore. 



144 STRAY LEAVES. 



AITTUMN'S CARNIVAL. 

The autiiniii time, the forests' carnival 
Is here ; the time of masque and pageant, ere 

The lenten fast of winter come, when all 

These boughs in beauty robed shall shiver bare. 

The gorgeous maples glow through all the maze, 
And full of grace lead fortli the legious bright: 

The silver birch her crown of gold displays, 
The uuibrella dogwood sheds a ruddy light. 

In phalanxes of gold the hickorys burn, 
And solitary oaks in grandeur grow ; 

Reluctantly their glossy dark leaves turn. 
And streaks of sullen red like anger show. 



ANGELINE. 

Angeline, fair Angeline, 

Thy lover's heart before thy beauty faints, 
As summer flowers beneath the sun's hot sheen, 

That all the laud with shimmering glory paints. 

Angeline, fair Angeline, 

Thy lovers heart thrills through at sight of thee 
Thy movements' inexpressibly soft mein 

Allures with all love's langorous witchery. 

Angeline, fair Angeline, 

Thy lover's heart takes in thy dulcet words, 
As sultry air some silent summer e'en 

Absorbs the love slipt notes of nested birds. 

Angeline, fair Angeline. 

Thy lover's heart is burning all a-llush, 
When by the grace's hands thou robed art seen, 

Thy raiment clings so true love can but blush. 



LAW AND OKDEE. 145 



LAW AND OEDEK. 

'Twould be well for all who dwell in our land, 
From the center to th' utmost border, 

To enroll themselves in wisdom's band, 
The Society of Law and Order. 

For order is said to be heaven's first law. 
Maintained by th' Eternal Wardonr, 

And heaven's elite to their circles draw 
The Society of Law and Order. 

For only the vile and rebellions are writ 
In the rolls of fate's stern recorder. 

As those alone who never can fit 
The Society of Law and Order. 



ABBREVIATIONS FOR HOT WEATHER 

1 

Upon my way along the street 

A red-nosed friend I chanced to meet, 

I said and who will say 'tis not ? 

" How do I good-morning, Johnnie, 's 'ot." 

He sudden looked like he was mad. 
The truth had hit him pretty bad ; 
I said, " I cannot be so bold, 
A day like this, to tell you s'cold. 



The train is full of girls and boys 
Who make, like bees, a constant noise. 
What other times may be the rule, 
To-day 'twont do to say it'scool. 



146 STRAY LEAVES. 



Hustle and fuss, and buz and hum, 
Till to the picnic ground they come. 
Train slacks up, in order thej' form, 
Now 'tis doubly safe to tell them s'warm. 



AS WE VIEW IT. 

The dim blue sea is all alive 

With busy billows lithe and swift. 

Each swimmer forward seems to strive, 
To catch his mates that from him drift. 

And here and there one rising high. 
With rippHng laughter headlong falls, 

And breaks in smiles that meet the eye 
Like pearly teeth in pleasure's halls. 

To us who sail so trim and taut, 
The stirring scene gives thrills of bliss. 

Our gay and swiftly moving yacht 
Meets each fond billow with a kiss. 

But there, ahead, right on our course. 

A mast's loose wreck is floating low ; 
Upon it lies a seaman's corse. 

And takes the seas that o'er it flow. 

One short hour since his spirit fled. 
Till then his hopeless eyes looked out : 

Till then he held his weary head 

Above the waves that prowled about. 

To him the billows' smiles were grins. 
And horrid mouths with gleaming fangs : 

Their rising backs disclosed the flns 

Of hungry sharks that mock'd his pangs. 



IN MEMORIAM. 147 



IN MEMORIAM. 



MRS. T. J. BIGHAM. 



Another child of God has gone to rest. 
To perfect rest and endless joy has gone, 

She joins the company who serve Him best, 
That ever through heaven's gate is passing on. 

'Tis sad for us with this dear friend to part. 
To lose her ever after from our sight, 

The gentle matron with the pitying heart 
And constant mind that ever chose the right. 

P\)r her we need not mourn ; 'tis we who stand 
In need of pity for our grievous loss ; 

We miss the loving heart, the helping hand, 
The faith that gloried in her Saviour's cross. 

Among the blessed ones she finds her home, 
And converse holds with^ angels, face to face ; 

And when they worship 'neath heaven's arching 
dome. 
With native courtesy she takes her place. 



/ 



